Telegram founder Pavel Durov says the messaging platform has applied for the .gram top-level domain, a move that could give Telegram users a new way to create and host websites directly through the platform. Under the proposal, users would be able to receive second-level .gram addresses linked to their Telegram usernames and use AI to generate interactive websites from a simple prompt. Telegram’s application still requires approval from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
The proposal would expand Telegram beyond messaging, channels and mini apps into website creation and hosting. Durov said users could create interactive websites hosted by Telegram with a single prompt, potentially lowering the technical barrier for people who want an online presence but do not know how to code. The plan comes as Telegram continues building a broader ecosystem around mini apps, AI tools, payments and decentralized web services.
Telegram Applies For .gram Domain
Telegram has applied for the .gram domain zone as part of the current domain application process. The company now has to go through ICANN’s approval process before the domain can become operational.
The proposal could allow Telegram usernames to become the basis for personalized web addresses. For example, a user with the Telegram username example could potentially receive an address such as example.gram, although the exact naming and registration rules have not yet been publicly finalized.
.gram Proposal At A Glance
| Feature | Reported Plan |
|---|---|
| Proposed domain | .gram |
| Applicant | Telegram |
| Founder promoting proposal | Pavel Durov |
| Domain authority | ICANN |
| User addresses | Potentially linked to Telegram usernames |
| Website creation | AI-generated from prompts |
| Hosting | Telegram-hosted websites |
| Current status | Application / approval process |
| Confirmed launch date | Not announced |
The application itself does not mean .gram websites are already available. ICANN must first process the application, and Telegram would need to establish the technical and commercial infrastructure required to operate the domain.
AI Could Build Websites From A Single Prompt
The most significant part of Durov’s proposal is not simply the new domain ending. It is the integration of AI-generated website creation.
The concept would allow users to describe what they want and have an AI system generate an interactive website hosted on Telegram’s infrastructure. That could eliminate several traditional steps involved in creating a website, including choosing hosting, installing software, designing pages and writing code.
Traditional Website Creation Vs AI-Powered .gram
| Traditional Approach | Proposed Telegram Approach |
|---|---|
| Buy a domain | Receive or use a .gram address |
| Choose hosting | Telegram-hosted |
| Select website platform | AI-generated |
| Design pages manually | Describe desired website |
| Write or configure code | AI handles generation |
| Deploy website | Hosted through Telegram |
| Maintain technical infrastructure | Potentially simplified by Telegram |
The proposal therefore combines three separate services — identity, website creation and hosting — into one Telegram ecosystem.
How The Proposed System Could Work
The exact technical architecture has not been disclosed, but Durov’s description points toward a relatively simple user workflow.
A user could provide an instruction such as “create a website for my photography business” or “build a portfolio for my freelance work.” The AI could then generate the site’s structure, text, layout and interactive components.
Potential .gram Website Workflow
Telegram Username
↓
.gram Address
↓
User Gives Prompt
↓
AI Builds
↓
Website + Content + Design
↓
Telegram Hosts Website
↓
Public Access
This would represent a major reduction in the technical skills traditionally required to launch a website.
The proposal is particularly relevant as generative AI tools increasingly move from producing individual pieces of content toward building complete software applications and websites.
Telegram Is Moving Beyond Messaging
The .gram proposal fits into Telegram’s broader strategy of becoming more than a conventional messaging application.
Telegram has already expanded into mini apps, payments, creator monetization, an integrated browser and decentralized websites. Durov previously announced Telegram Browser support for TON Sites, allowing users to access decentralized websites from inside Telegram.
That means the proposed .gram system would not represent Telegram’s first attempt to integrate web experiences into its platform.
Telegram’s Expanding Platform
TELEGRAM
│
┌──────────────┼──────────────┐
↓ ↓ ↓
Messaging Mini Apps AI
│ │ │
↓ ↓ ↓
Channels Payments Bots
│
↓
Browser
│
↓
TON Sites
│
↓
Potential .gram Websites
The direction suggests Telegram wants users to perform more activities without leaving its ecosystem.
Telegram Already Has A Large Developer Ecosystem
Telegram’s mini-app strategy provides an existing foundation for the proposed website model.
Mini Apps are web applications that run inside Telegram and can connect with Telegram-specific functionality. The company has increasingly promoted mini apps as a way for developers, businesses and creators to reach users.
Durov has also highlighted Telegram’s affiliate platform, where channels can earn Stars by referring users to mini apps. In one recent update, he said 15,000 affiliate programmes had been created within 12 days and 4 million users had been referred to mini apps.
Telegram Mini-App Activity
| Metric | Reported Figure |
|---|---|
| Affiliate programmes created in 12 days | 15,000 |
| Users referred to mini apps | 4 million |
| Telegram Premium subscribers previously announced | 10 million |
| Telegram users referenced by Durov | More than 1 billion |
The figures illustrate the scale of the ecosystem Telegram is attempting to build around its core messaging service.
AI Could Make Telegram’s Developer Ecosystem Larger
AI-generated websites could potentially bring a much larger group of people into Telegram’s development ecosystem.
Today, creating a mini app or website can require programming knowledge. AI tools are changing that by allowing users to describe software in natural language.
Telegram’s proposed model could take this one step further by combining AI generation with hosting and distribution.
From No-Code To AI-Generated Web
PAST
Idea
↓
Learn HTML / CSS / JavaScript
↓
Build Website
↓
Buy Domain
↓
Buy Hosting
↓
Deploy
PROPOSED .gram MODEL
Idea
↓
Write Prompt
↓
AI Builds Website
↓
Telegram Hosts It
↓
Share .gram Address
The potential advantage is simplicity. A user would not necessarily need to understand the technical infrastructure behind the website.
What Could Users Build?
If the system works as described, the possible use cases could extend well beyond personal profile pages.
Individuals could create portfolios, small-business websites, event pages, community hubs and landing pages. Creators could use them to showcase content, while developers could potentially use AI-generated sites as prototypes.
Potential .gram Use Cases
| User Type | Possible Website |
|---|---|
| Freelancer | Portfolio and services page |
| Small business | Product catalogue |
| Creator | Personal profile and content hub |
| Artist | Digital portfolio |
| Community | Information and discussion site |
| Developer | Prototype or demo |
| Event organiser | Event information and registration page |
| Educator | Course or resource page |
These are potential use cases rather than confirmed Telegram features. The company’s announcement has not yet specified the complete range of website functionality that .gram would support.
The .gram Domain Could Become A New Digital Identity Layer
A major implication of the proposal is the possibility of connecting a person’s Telegram identity with a public web identity.
Today, users often maintain separate usernames across social networks, domain registrars and websites. A Telegram-linked .gram address could potentially create a more direct connection between a messaging identity and a web presence.
For example:
Telegram Identity
@username
│
↓
username.gram
│
├── Profile
├── Website
├── Products
├── Services
└── Links
If implemented at scale, this could turn Telegram usernames into more valuable digital assets.
However, details such as username ownership, domain transfers, disputes, impersonation protection and availability have not yet been announced.
Telegram’s TON Strategy Could Also Matter
Telegram has been closely integrating its ecosystem with TON, the blockchain infrastructure associated with the platform.
Durov previously announced an agreement with the TON Foundation under which TON would become Telegram’s exclusive blockchain partner for tokenization, payouts and mini-app integrations.
Telegram has also supported TON Sites through its browser, allowing users to access decentralized websites within Telegram.
The proposed .gram system could therefore exist alongside both conventional web infrastructure and Telegram’s existing blockchain-oriented services, although Telegram has not yet explained whether .gram itself would rely on TON.
The Proposal Comes After A Recent Domain Disruption
Telegram’s interest in owning its own top-level domain also comes shortly after a disruption involving its t.me short-link domain.
In July, t.me links temporarily stopped working through some browsers after the domain was placed under a serverHold status. The problem was later resolved.
That incident demonstrated one potential advantage of controlling a dedicated domain namespace: a company can potentially reduce reliance on a third-party country-code domain registry.
However, operating a top-level domain still involves technical, regulatory and administrative responsibilities, and .gram would remain subject to the broader domain-name system.
Challenges Telegram Could Face
The idea of AI-generated websites sounds simple, but operating such a system at Telegram’s scale could create significant challenges.
The first is moderation. AI-generated websites could be used for legitimate businesses and communities, but they could also be used for phishing, fraud, impersonation or other harmful activities.
The second is infrastructure. Hosting potentially millions of interactive websites would require substantial computing, storage and bandwidth capacity.
The third is domain governance. Telegram would need systems for username conflicts, abuse complaints, trademark disputes and malicious websites.
Key Challenges
| Challenge | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| AI-generated abuse | Websites could be created for scams or phishing |
| Moderation | Telegram would need enforcement systems |
| Infrastructure | Hosting large numbers of websites requires capacity |
| Identity | Username-to-domain mapping creates ownership questions |
| Security | AI-generated code could contain vulnerabilities |
| Regulation | Web hosting creates additional compliance obligations |
| ICANN approval | .gram must pass the domain application process |
These issues could determine how quickly the proposed service can scale.
Telegram’s AI Push Is Expanding
The .gram proposal is also consistent with Durov’s broader push to bring AI directly into Telegram.
Telegram has promoted AI-powered features and has opened the platform to external AI developers. Durov previously announced a partnership with xAI to bring Grok to Telegram users, with Telegram set to receive $300 million in cash and equity plus 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold through Telegram.
That relationship gives Telegram another major AI capability while allowing the company to monetise AI services.
The proposed AI website builder would move AI from a conversational tool toward a creation platform.
From Messaging App To Digital Platform
The broader strategy can be viewed as a progression:
MESSAGING
↓
CHANNELS & COMMUNITIES
↓
BOTS
↓
MINI APPS
↓
PAYMENTS & COMMERCE
↓
AI SERVICES
↓
BROWSER & WEB3
↓
AI-GENERATED WEBSITES
↓
POTENTIAL .GRAM WEB
Each layer increases the amount of activity users can conduct without leaving Telegram.
If successful, .gram could become another part of this ecosystem rather than simply a new domain extension.
The Bigger Picture
Telegram’s .gram proposal could turn the messaging platform into a much broader web-creation and hosting ecosystem. By combining Telegram usernames, AI-generated websites and Telegram-hosted infrastructure, the company is effectively proposing a simplified route from a user’s digital identity to a functioning website. Durov’s announcement is still at the application stage, however, and ICANN approval and further technical details are required before the service can become reality.
The move also reflects a broader shift in the internet toward AI-generated software. Website creation is increasingly moving from manual coding toward natural-language instructions, and Telegram is attempting to integrate that trend directly into an existing user ecosystem. If .gram launches successfully, Telegram could compete not only with messaging platforms and social networks, but also with parts of the traditional website-building and hosting market.
Looking Ahead
The next important step will be the outcome of Telegram’s .gram application and the technical details that follow. Users will need clarity on how addresses are assigned, whether usernames automatically translate into domains, what hosting capabilities will be available and how Telegram will handle abuse, security and ownership disputes. The company has not yet announced a launch date or final pricing model.
If approved and implemented at scale, .gram could give Telegram users a new form of digital identity while making website creation accessible to people without coding skills. The bigger opportunity for Telegram would be to connect messaging, AI, commerce, mini apps and the open web into one ecosystem, potentially making the platform less dependent on its traditional role as a messaging service.
Get the day’s top stories in your inbox
One concise email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
