diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6f060947..b48f1fb4 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "libp2p",
-  "version": "0.25.5",
+  "version": "0.26.0-rc.0",
   "description": "JavaScript implementation of libp2p, a modular peer to peer network stack",
   "leadMaintainer": "Jacob Heun <jacobheun@gmail.com>",
   "main": "src/index.js",
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@
     "Aditya Bose <13054902+adbose@users.noreply.github.com>",
     "Alan Shaw <alan.shaw@protocol.ai>",
     "Alan Shaw <alan@tableflip.io>",
+    "Alex Potsides <alex@achingbrain.net>",
     "Andrew Nesbitt <andrewnez@gmail.com>",
     "Chris Bratlien <chrisbratlien@gmail.com>",
     "Chris Dostert <chrisdostert@users.noreply.github.com>",