On August 19, 2026, Telegram took a step that could radically change the architecture of how users interact with web content. The founder of the messenger, Pavel Durov, officially filed an application to register his own top-level domain zone — .gram. This decision will allow every public username to become a full-fledged web resource, creating a de facto alternative ecosystem within the messenger.
From usernames to full-fledged websites
The essence of the innovation lies in the direct integration of user identification and web addresses. If the application is approved by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), more than a billion Telegram users will gain access to second-level personal domains. For example, for an account with the username @durov, the website address will automatically become durov.gram. This simplifies navigation and allows users to instantly turn their profiles into web pages.
Technological autonomy and protection against blocking
Experts link this move to the need to ensure the platform's technological independence. The key trigger for creating its own zone was an incident that occurred in July 2026. At that time, the domain t.me temporarily stopped opening in browsers around the world. The cause was a block by the Montenegrin company DomainME, which administers the .me zone, at the request of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
That time, Telegram was able to quickly switch link generation to the alternative domain telegram.me, restoring access within a day. However, the incident clearly showed the platform's vulnerability to the actions of third parties owning domain zones. Its own .gram zone will allow the messenger to fully control the infrastructure of its links and avoid similar risks in the future.
Democratization of web development
The new functionality is aimed not only at protection but also at expanding opportunities for developers and ordinary users. Telegram plans to launch tools that allow creating interactive web resources in a few clicks. Websites will be hosted directly on Telegram servers, eliminating the need for complex hosting and DNS setup. This opens the way to creating an "internet within the internet," where content is generated and consumed in a single environment.
