diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 81c3249f47a..b60ea565073 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 = "1.67.0-SNAPSHOT",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.68.0-SNAPSHOT",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 )
 
 # GRPC_DEPS_START
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 74cfacb800a..740f534e136 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ subprojects {
     apply plugin: "net.ltgt.errorprone"
 
     group = "io.grpc"
-    version = "1.67.0-SNAPSHOT" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.68.0-SNAPSHOT" // 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 75e9e0b47e0..04a7f2406b3 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 1.67.0-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.0-SNAPSHOT)",
     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 3852b6ee547..d69abad7cbb 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 1.67.0-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.0-SNAPSHOT)",
     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 593bdbce13f..a1fe34c2edc 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 = "1.67.0-SNAPSHOT"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.68.0-SNAPSHOT"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
   /**
    * The default timeout in nanos for a keepalive ping request.
diff --git a/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/clientcache/app/build.gradle
index 0ca032fb0e4..6b5b966e7f6 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
index 0f1e8b4047b..4edbcb14612 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // 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 c33135233ea..4a08f40e4ee 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // 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 e8e2e8cac29..9f41994e3c2 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // 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:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/build.gradle b/examples/build.gradle
index 076e0c4a25b..c10b4eef46a 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.3'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-alts/build.gradle b/examples/example-alts/build.gradle
index 3c998586bb6..0d7d959de93 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
index ca151a13c1a..5565747cb19 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
index 7365b35daab..064d989c04c 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.3</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 32b35af8a87..554b5f758d9 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml b/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
index f955cada0f6..dfd650cdfa4 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.3</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 40e72afad82..47e812fde15 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.3'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-gauth/pom.xml
index 2512cb37ea5..d2cba1a7959 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.3</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 5de2b1995e2..a392018ba25 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 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 0462c987f52..dcb8d420020 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
index ab45ee2dc5b..df8b0fde121 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
index 443ecb85ef2..c6d39887bac 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.3</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 6fdd4498c7d..f996282bbb0 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.3'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml b/examples/example-jwt-auth/pom.xml
index f2e92e28c84..c84f9893980 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.3</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.3</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle b/examples/example-oauth/build.gradle
index 255633b4f9f..7f600c2bc53 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.3'
 def protocVersion = protobufVersion
 
diff --git a/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml b/examples/example-oauth/pom.xml
index 4e284b5f248..fa2eaa41e36 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.3</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.3</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for jdk9 -->
diff --git a/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle b/examples/example-opentelemetry/build.gradle
index 00f7dc101bf..21264ffcc17 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 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 22feb8cae42..d087a532aff 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
index 78821391911..d7d5c50b7e6 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
index 9542ba0277f..995e2d0979b 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
index 94257af4758..8aad6b62bcb 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
index eab02cb5919..e1d569a628c 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protoc.version>3.25.3</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 2554adb0033..8339db77e0c 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 = '1.67.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.0-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.3'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/pom.xml b/examples/pom.xml
index 5cd721b50d1..247df4a73ce 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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</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>1.67.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.0-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.3</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.3</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for JDK 8 -->