Bluesky Applies for .bsky Domain to Give Users Shorter Web Identities

Bluesky has applied to operate “.bsky” as a new internet domain suffix, a move that could eventually let users replace longer Bluesky handles with shorter web identities. CEO Toni Schneider disclosed the application ahead of ICANN’s publication of new top-level domain applications.

If approved, a user with a handle such as @sarahp.bsky.social could potentially use a shorter address such as “sarahp.bsky.” The idea would extend Bluesky’s existing approach to domain-based identity, where users can already connect their social handles to domains they control.

.bsky could expand Bluesky profiles beyond social feeds

A dedicated domain could give Bluesky more flexibility in how it handles user profiles and online identity. Instead of functioning only as a page containing posts and a short biography, a profile could eventually become a broader personal web presence tied to a user’s identity outside the app.

Bluesky has not yet finalised how .bsky domains would be requested, registered or distributed. The company also said it does not currently plan to sell or monetise the domains if the application is approved.

That position reflects Bluesky’s broader argument that domain names can give people more control over their online identity. Company spokesperson Rose Wang said Bluesky was built on the idea that users should own their online presence rather than depend entirely on an account controlled by a platform.

ICANN approval could take up to two years

The .bsky application still has to pass through ICANN’s process for approving new top-level domains. Schneider said the organisation is expected to publish applications on October 7, 2026, with the full process likely to take about 18 to 24 months.

That means .bsky remains a long-term proposal rather than an immediate feature. If approved, however, it could give Bluesky a more direct connection between social identity and the broader open web while making user handles shorter and easier to recognise.