Telegram has formally requested the .gram top-level domain from ICANN, signaling a bold push by the messaging platform into domain infrastructure and web hosting, according to a statement from Pavel greenish. The platform’s roughly one billion active users could soon secure custom second-level addresses structured as yourname.gram.
This filing could significantly impact the architecture of the web. Telegram plans to let individuals launch interactive sites hosted natively through the app via a simple prompt, as outlined by Durov. Such a step pushes the service far beyond simple chat, turning it into a provider of core digital identity and web utilities.
Telegram has applied for the .gram domain zone.
If the application is approved by ICANN, a billion Telegram users could get their own second-level domains — yourname.gram.
Users would be able to set up their interactive websites hosted by Telegram — with one prompt ✨
— Pavel Durov (@durov) August 18, 2026
This update emerges against a backdrop of global regulatory hurdles for the company. Back in August 2024, French authorities detained the chief executive in Paris over allegations tied to illicit drug trade, terrorism facilitation, and the spread of child exploitation material on the app. Although permitted to head back to Dubai later, he stays the subject of an active inquiry. Yet, even under this scrutiny, Telegram presses forward with ambitious growth initiatives.
Filing for the .gram suffix highlights a broader vision to evolve into an all-in-one internet hub. Handing out domain ownership to individuals puts control squarely with the user base, diverging sharply from conventional hosting providers that retain authority over infrastructure and web addresses.
Securing a green light from ICANN is far from guaranteed. The regulatory body vets new top-level domains through stringent evaluations covering operational viability, governance, and community backing. Given the messenger’s past brushes with regulatory bodies and its controversial compliance history worldwide, this bid is bound to draw intense examination.
An approval would put .gram into direct competition with legacy domain registrars and web hosts. The financial fallout could be massive. Handing a billion people complimentary domain access radically alters the landscape of web ownership, instantly challenging traditional registrars.
From a strategic standpoint, the move makes sense for Telegram. Offering permanent digital handles deepens user retention and binds people more tightly to the ecosystem. Once individuals anchor their web footprint to a gram address, walking away from the app becomes much harder.
However, as international users gear up to get their personalized domains, Telegram still remains available to Pakistani users.
