Global Web Encryption Relies on Single U.S. Non-Profit, Raising Centralization and Geopolitical Risks

Introduction: The Critical Centralization of Web Encryption Infrastructure Beneath the ubiquitous "HTTPS" padlock in modern browsers lies a systemic vulnerability: the global web encryption infrastructure is overwhelmingly dependent on a single entity —Let’s Encrypt, a U.S.-based non-profit operating from a California datacenter. This dependency is not theoretical but a structural reality of the internet’s trust architecture. Let’s Encrypt dominates the issuance of digital certificates—cryptographic credentials that authenticate websites—accounting for 90% of the global market share . These certificates are indispensable for establishing encrypted connections; their absence renders websites inaccessible, disrupts e-commerce, and exposes global communications to plaintext interception. The risk does not stem from Let’s Encrypt’s operational inadequacy—its automated certificate issuance pipeline, processing 2.5 million certificates daily , has democratized encryption. Rather, the risk is