diff --git a/core/build.gradle b/core/build.gradle
index 0ddeac9e243..26c1a041389 100644
--- a/core/build.gradle
+++ b/core/build.gradle
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ plugins {
     id 'maven-publish'
 }
 
-version = '0.17-SNAPSHOT'
+version = '0.17-alpha3'
 
 dependencies {
     api 'org.bouncycastle:bcprov-jdk15to18:1.77'
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/VersionMessage.java b/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/VersionMessage.java
index 5a202c5dce8..a66bf82ddee 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/VersionMessage.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/bitcoinj/core/VersionMessage.java
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 public class VersionMessage extends BaseMessage {
 
     /** The version of this library release, as a string. */
-    public static final String BITCOINJ_VERSION = "0.17-SNAPSHOT";
+    public static final String BITCOINJ_VERSION = "0.17-alpha3";
     /** The value that is prepended to the subVer field of this application. */
     public static final String LIBRARY_SUBVER = "/bitcoinj:" + BITCOINJ_VERSION + "/";