diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 4169b19d85b..11db4027b29 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/MODULE.bazel
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ module(
     name = "grpc-java",
     compatibility_level = 0,
     repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_java",
-    version = "1.68.3-SNAPSHOT",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.68.3",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 )
 
 # GRPC_DEPS_START
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index f170878bb59..b66ad5d2c25 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ subprojects {
     apply plugin: "net.ltgt.errorprone"
 
     group = "io.grpc"
-    version = "1.68.3-SNAPSHOT" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.68.3" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
     repositories {
         maven { // The google mirror is less flaky than mavenCentral()
diff --git a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
index e51af01b8d1..58c54afd6e5 100644
--- a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestDeprecatedService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.3-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.3)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 @java.lang.Deprecated
diff --git a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
index 67d756a2375..934150478d4 100644
--- a/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
+++ b/compiler/src/test/golden/TestService.java.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import static io.grpc.MethodDescriptor.generateFullMethodName;
  * </pre>
  */
 @javax.annotation.Generated(
-    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.3-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.3)",
     comments = "Source: grpc/testing/compiler/test.proto")
 @io.grpc.stub.annotations.GrpcGenerated
 public final class TestServiceGrpc {
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
index 4b33f58040f..be7f85d0975 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/GrpcUtil.java
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ public byte[] parseAsciiString(byte[] serialized) {
 
   public static final Splitter ACCEPT_ENCODING_SPLITTER = Splitter.on(',').trimResults();
 
-  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.68.3-SNAPSHOT"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.68.3"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
   /**
    * The default timeout in nanos for a keepalive ping request.
diff --git a/examples/MODULE.bazel b/examples/MODULE.bazel
index 7e70bae30a8..f0c8543f711 100644
--- a/examples/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/examples/MODULE.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 bazel_dep(name = "googleapis", repo_name = "com_google_googleapis", version = "0.0.0-20240326-1c8d509c5")
-bazel_dep(name = "grpc-java", repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_java", version = "1.68.3-SNAPSHOT")  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+bazel_dep(name = "grpc-java", repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_java", version = "1.68.3")  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 bazel_dep(name = "grpc-proto", repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_proto", version = "0.0.0-20240627-ec30f58")
 bazel_dep(name = "protobuf", repo_name = "com_google_protobuf", version = "23.1")
 bazel_dep(name = "rules_jvm_external", version = "6.0")
diff --git a/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
index 001b9503897..caf0a3cc552 100644
--- a/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -54,12 +54,12 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 
     testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.13.2'
     testImplementation 'com.google.truth:truth:1.1.5'
-    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
index b02ee4112db..7750139e727 100644
--- a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
index b405998cf70..8849fd2da98 100644
--- a/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/routeguide/app/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
index ecd26e495c5..19283a751c2 100644
--- a/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/android/strictmode/app/build.gradle
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ android {
 protobuf {
     protoc { artifact = 'com.google.protobuf:protoc:3.25.1' }
     plugins {
-        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
         }
     }
     generateProtoTasks {
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ dependencies {
     implementation 'androidx.appcompat:appcompat:1.0.0'
 
     // You need to build grpc-java to obtain these libraries below.
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/build.gradle b/examples/build.gradle
index 6a853599338..de5aef0f827 100644
--- a/examples/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-alts/build.gradle b/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
index 2def912ca24..5506ed7bc98 100644
--- a/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
index 48a03ee40f0..394d15a5e09 100644
--- a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
index 1aa27338b8b..6a26dca26e7 100644
--- a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-debug</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle b/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle
index 30648983d69..01bf95d5942 100644
--- a/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-dualstack/build.gradle
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml b/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
index 5499dbb2da5..98888f8e8a7 100644
--- a/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-dualstack</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle b/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
index 9cd6423c0e2..de13bc24756 100644
--- a/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gauth/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
index 4a4e50ef7b2..603353dbecc 100644
--- a/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-gauth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.5</protobuf.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle b/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle
index 33b6f25bb55..6a112961d4c 100644
--- a/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gcp-csm-observability/build.gradle
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 def openTelemetryVersion = '1.40.0'
 def openTelemetryPrometheusVersion = '1.40.0-alpha'
diff --git a/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle b/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
index 8ee801dd789..7ba06420c62 100644
--- a/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-gcp-observability/build.gradle
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
index d93a456a011..3fa75c632f5 100644
--- a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
index 434a8502eea..6722ad3ebe9 100644
--- a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-hostname</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle b/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
index 1d0e863f54d..515d1b65922 100644
--- a/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-jwt-auth/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml b/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
index 1778f8823ae..cc3aaeccdb5 100644
--- a/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-jwt-auth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.5</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle b/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
index 00980a00846..0de4fce1085 100644
--- a/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
index 867a3e61d4e..95cb5af778f 100644
--- a/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-oauth</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.5</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle b/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle
index f701a143aaa..1a5524c6d2b 100644
--- a/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 def openTelemetryVersion = '1.40.0'
 def openTelemetryPrometheusVersion = '1.40.0-alpha'
diff --git a/examples/example-orca/build.gradle b/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
index a2500274b02..10284f64535 100644
--- a/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-orca/build.gradle
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
index 6f2d808a91c..5e90095e28c 100644
--- a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
index e6012c38a56..01dce065362 100644
--- a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ java {
     targetCompatibility = JavaVersion.VERSION_1_8
 }
 
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
index 2d2ae6e61e2..9374fc7a3e2 100644
--- a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
index 9ad8caa3715..8681079eff6 100644
--- a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>example-tls</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
     <maven.compiler.source>1.8</maven.compiler.source>
diff --git a/examples/example-xds/build.gradle b/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
index c2e2b1f3200..4d294b0ea9d 100644
--- a/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/example-xds/build.gradle
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ java {
 
 // Feel free to delete the comment at the next line. It is just for safely
 // updating the version in our release process.
-def grpcVersion = '1.68.3-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.3' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/pom.xml b/examples/pom.xml
index bfe9d3d862e..63cc2342022 100644
--- a/examples/pom.xml
+++ b/examples/pom.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
   <packaging>jar</packaging>
   <!-- Feel free to delete the comment at the end of these lines. It is just
        for safely updating the version in our release process. -->
-  <version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.3</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
   <name>examples</name>
   <url>https://github.com/grpc/grpc-java</url>
 
   <properties>
     <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
-    <grpc.version>1.68.3-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.3</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.5</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for JDK 8 -->