Telegram reportedly eyes .gram domain for custom website creation

Telegram is reportedly pursuing the .gram top-level domain, which would allow users to spin up custom websites directly from a prompt. The move, if confirmed, would represent a significant expansion of Telegram’s ambitions beyond messaging and into web hosting territory.

The Gram name carries baggage

Anyone who’s been in crypto long enough will recognize “Gram” as the original name for the token tied to the Telegram Open Network, the blockchain project Telegram launched in 2017 and then abandoned in 2020 after the SEC sued to block its token sale. The project eventually spun off into an independent community effort, now known as the TON blockchain.

The Gram token itself has had a winding naming history. It was rebranded to Toncoin as the community took over development, then reverted back to the name “Gram” in mid-2026.

There’s already a community-driven .gram DNS project operating at dns.gramcoin.org within the TON ecosystem. That project, however, runs independently of Telegram the company.

What Telegram is actually building right now

Telegram’s Mini Apps feature already lets developers build web-like experiences inside the Telegram app itself. Mini Apps have become a meaningful distribution channel, particularly for crypto projects building on TON. Games, DeFi interfaces, and utility tools have all found homes inside Telegram’s ecosystem.

That said, Telegram’s infrastructure ambitions haven’t been without hiccups. The company’s primary domain, t.me, experienced a temporary server hold from July 13 to 14, 2026, stemming from compliance-related issues.

The regulatory and market reality

Securing a new top-level domain through ICANN is neither quick nor cheap. The process typically involves substantial application fees, technical requirements, and a review period that can stretch over a year or more.

Domain registries come with their own set of obligations around content moderation, WHOIS data, and abuse prevention. As of August 18, 2026, there are no verifiable public announcements from Telegram confirming any .gram TLD application through ICANN or any domain registry.

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