Google Chrome to Distrust Chunghwa Telecom and Netlock TLS Certificates from August 2025, Urging Site Migration and Raising Security Standards
Google Chrome announced it will stop trusting new TLS certificates issued by Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom and Hungary’s Netlock starting August 1, 2025, across Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and Linux browsers (version 139+). This move is due to multiple operational and management failures by both certificate authorities, which failed to meet Chrome Root Program’s requirements for reliability and transparency—though no technical or cryptographic security standards were breached. Websites using these certificates after July 31, 2025, will trigger full-page security warnings, blocking access by default in Chrome. The change will not affect iOS users or other browsers by Microsoft and Apple. In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs adopted a dual-certificate strategy for government websites, transitioning to other trusted local CAs from March 2025 onward to ensure continued service. Website operators are urged to migrate to trusted CAs such as DigiCert, Let’s Encrypt, or TWCA before existing certificates expire. This shift underscores Google’s strict enforcement of CA policy standards, which may impact sectors reliant on certificate trust, including government, finance, and the broader tech or blockchain ecosystem. Crypto traders should note the signal that web security standards are tightening and website accessibility may be impacted, particularly for services hosted in Taiwan.
Neutral
The removal of trust for Chunghwa Telecom and Netlock TLS certificates by Google Chrome primarily affects website accessibility and security compliance, not any specific cryptocurrency or blockchain asset directly. While the move signals stricter web security standards—which could influence the operation and accessibility of blockchain projects, exchanges, or DeFi platforms reliant on affected certificates, especially in Taiwan—it does not directly drive buying or selling sentiment for crypto assets. In the short term, volatility might occur if major blockchain or exchange platforms experience technical disruptions; however, as proactive migration to trusted CAs is recommended and underway, sustained impact on market prices is unlikely. Long-term, this highlights the growing importance of web security infrastructure for the crypto sector without posing clear bullish or bearish signals for token valuation.