.ton domains (TON DNS): what they are and where to buy them
What .ton domains (TON DNS) are: a readable name for a wallet or a site on the TON network. How to buy one at the dns.ton.org auction, what you can do with it and how it differs from Fragment names.
A .ton domain is a short, readable name such as example.ton that points to a wallet, a smart contract or a website on the TON network. The names are issued by TON DNS, and you buy a domain at an auction on dns.ton.org by connecting a wallet in which only you hold the keys. Fragment does not sell .ton domains: it sells Telegram usernames and numbers, while .ton domains live separately.
What a .ton domain is
- A readable name. According to the site itself, a domain gives a wallet, a smart contract or a website a short readable name instead of a long address.
- TON DNS. The TON documentation describes it as a service that translates readable names such as
example.toninto smart contract addresses, service addresses and other network entities. - An NFT. Every .ton domain is an NFT: you can transfer it to someone else through any wallet or marketplace that works with NFTs.
What you can link to a domain
The domain page on dns.ton.org has fields for:
- a wallet address;
- a TON Site and its hosting in TON Storage;
- subdomains, which the owner manages.
A linked name can be used instead of a long address wherever the app supports TON DNS.
How to buy a .ton domain
- Open dns.ton.org. The official ton.org website links to it too.
- Connect a wallet with the "Connect wallet" button. The site asks you to place bids and make payments only from non-custodial wallets, meaning ones where you hold the keys, not a service. A wallet bot that keeps your keys for you does not fit.
- Search for the name you want. If it is available, place the first bid; that starts the auction. The site shows the highest bid, the bid step, the minimum bid and the time left until the auction ends.
- If someone outbids you, the site returns your money.
- If you win, the domain appears under "My domains", where you set it up.
Bids and payments are made in the coin of the TON network, GRAM, which used to be called TON. Where to get it is in GRAM, formerly TON.
Domain prices differ from name to name and change, so there are none here: check the minimum bid on the auction itself.
Renewing a domain
A domain has to be renewed once a year: the owner sends a small payment to the domain's contract, and the TON documentation gives the amount. If a domain goes without renewal for more than a year, anyone can trigger its release, and it goes back to auction for one week. On dns.ton.org the domain page has a "Renew this domain" option.
Can you resell a .ton domain
Because a domain is an NFT, it can be sold. On dns.ton.org a domain has a sale price field, and .ton domains also show up on NFT marketplaces on TON, such as Getgems.
.ton, .gram and Fragment
- Fragment. Fragment's own description lists Telegram usernames, virtual numbers, Stars, Premium and ads. .ton domains are not named there. What the platform does sell is covered in Fragment: what it is and how to use it, and names in Telegram username guide.
- .gram. On 18 August 2026 Pavel Durov wrote that Telegram had applied for the .gram domain zone. If ICANN approves it, every user could get a name like
durov.gram. This is a separate story: an application is not an approval, while .ton is a system that already works on TON.
How to keep your money and access safe
- Place bids only on dns.ton.org: fake sites use similar addresses.
- Connecting a wallet only needs a confirmation inside the wallet app. The site and "support" never ask for a recovery phrase. Whoever knows the phrase can move all the coins; more in what a seed phrase is.
- Check the domain name before you bid:
example.tonandexamp1e.tonare different domains.
The Shiba Bank bot does not trade domains. You can buy Stars and Premium in it, including with GRAM: how to pay for Stars with crypto.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .ton domain?
A short readable name such as example.ton that points to a wallet, a smart contract or a website on the TON network. The domain itself is an NFT, so it can be transferred and sold.
How do I buy a .ton domain?
Open dns.ton.org, connect a wallet in which you hold the keys, find the name and place the first bid at the auction. If someone outbids you, your money is returned.
Does Fragment sell .ton domains?
Fragment's description names Telegram usernames, numbers, Stars, Premium and ads, and .ton domains are not among them. You buy them at dns.ton.org.
What is the difference between .ton and .gram?
.ton domains belong to the TON network and can be bought now at dns.ton.org. .gram is a zone that Telegram applied for at ICANN; until the application is approved, such domains cannot be bought.
Do I have to pay for a .ton domain every year?
You renew it once a year with a payment to its contract. If it is not renewed for more than a year, it can go back to auction.
Which wallet should I connect to dns.ton.org?
Any TON-network wallet in which only you hold the keys, such as Tonkeeper (how to use it). The site asks you not to use custodial wallets.
