Telegram applies for .GRAM

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

UPDATED: new gTLD applicants start announcing their strings

A few new gTLD applicants published their list of strings recently:

1. Twitter announcement, Telegram applied for .GRAM : https://www.gtld.club/2026/08/telegram-applies-for-gram.html 
2. The .EASY new gTLD: https://easy.com/easygroup-applies-to-icann-for-the-easy-top-level-domain-as-part-of-the-new-gtld-program-2026-round/
3. Name Space LLC applied for 10 strings: (website coming): .MARS - .SOUND - .HELLO - .FEST - .AURA - .YAM - .IFY - .III - .YYY - .BRAIN
   
4. Xiyou Ji (西游记) submits 323 new gTLD applications (including IDNs): https://xiyou.domains/
5. Twitter announcement for the .SUI new gTLD (website coming soon).
6. 2 applications spotted: .BIT and .ION new gTLDs (website coming soon).
7. Suffix Inc submits 89 new gTLD applications: Suffix Domains (but shows 13 only).
8. Link Freedom Group published a list of more than 300 strings but it remains unclear if these are Primary strings ro if that ist includes its secondary strings: https://lfg.link/
9. Internet.BEST announced its application for .SOCIALMEDIA : https://internet.best/socialmedia/
10. A tool published 3 new gTLD applications for .MEOW - .STATUS and .UWU : https://discovery.newtld.tools/
11. Previous applicant for .CLUB submitted an application for the .FACTORY new gTLD : https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/14/3345503/0/en/usa-made-in-america-announces-application-for-factory-generic-top-level-domain.html
12. Endpoint Domains published their first 8 applications (Primary strings) only for: .BIG - .FAB - .FART - .FTW - .HAPPY - .NSFW - .PRIVATE and .TRUE : https://endpointdomains.com/
13. Oinkadot submitted 25 new gTLD applications for: .anime - .bit - .bug - .cancel - .dine - .dragon - .ghost - .glitch - .hack - .heart - .king - .loop - .manga - .moon - .panda - .puff - .queen - .sign - .spice - .stack - .stay - .super - .weed - .wire and .zzz (website coming soon).
14. Wiz announced it has 50+ letters of endorsement (On Twitter) for the .BITCOIN new gTLD: https://www.gtld.club/2026/08/50-letters-of-endorsement-for-bitcoin.html
15. Vant Nexus will announce its list of applications soon: https://vantnexus.com

Applicant for the .SUI new gTLD

Today, Sui Naming Limited submitted its application for the .sui Top-Level Domain.

We’re working with Doma, D3, and other industry partners to bring the Domain Name System (DNS) to SuiNS, connecting Sui names with the global naming system behind .com, .net, and .org.

This is a…

— Sui Name Service (SuiNS) (@SuiNSdapp) August 17, 2026

Applicant for .BIT and .ION new gTLDs

We have applied for .bit and .ion.
We will be excited to operate these TLDs 🔥 https://t.co/nqLIkRAFIk pic.twitter.com/fF4ylAH3US

— Youness KASMI (@kasmiyouness1) August 17, 2026

50+ letters of endorsement for .BITCOIN community application

We successfully submitted the ICANN .bitcoin TLD application for Community Priority Evaluation with over 50+ letters of endorsement from within the community, together with several high-level letters of recognition. ICANN will reveal our full application sometime in November 2026 pic.twitter.com/hlQaNEev4Q

— wiz 🇸🇻 (@wiz) August 12, 2026

Round 3 new gTLD applications and the AI

Claude (the AI) was asked to prepare a business plan and financial model for the .BHANGRA (for Bhangra music community), and .LATTE (the coffee drink) new gTLDs.

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On .WEB : Cast your Vote.

Will the .WEB new gTLD register 1 million or more domains on the first day of General Availability?

You need to be signed in to vote on LinkedIn.

Struggling to find the right strings?

As the TAMS application submission deadline approaches, many applicants are putting the final touches on their bids, while others are still gathering intelligence in an effort to avoid direct competition. A few observations come to mind:

• Applicants increasingly rely on external tools and market intelligence services to assess whether others may be pursuing the same string.
• The first application round in 2012 attracted 1,930 new gTLD applications. My expectation is that the 2026 round will exceed that number, including a significant volume of .BRAND applications.
• Identity Digital, the largest new gTLD applicant, operates 270 new gTLDs and manages a portfolio of 470 TLDs. Following its funding announcement in December 2025, it would not be surprising to see the company expand its ambitions in the upcoming round.
• GoDaddy is another player that could increase its application activity.
• Unstoppable Domains kept announcing lots of strings too.
• SuperNova200 has publicly stated its intention to submit 200 applications.
• Internet.best announced a list of 10 strings.
• Anyone using AI to generate lists of promising strings should remember that they are unlikely to be the only ones taking that approach. If an idea seems obvious to an AI, it is probably obvious to many other applicants as well.
• As in the 2012 round, new entrants with substantial financial resources could emerge and compete aggressively for attractive strings.

The bottom line: AI can be a valuable tool for brainstorming and research, but it may not be the best companion when it comes to identifying truly unique and uncontested strings. In a crowded and increasingly sophisticated market, originality, market insight, and strategic thinking may prove far more valuable than AI-generated suggestions alone.