diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 9abe21c1e23..5408f5d8b5c 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 = "1.68.1-SNAPSHOT",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.68.1",  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 )
 
 # GRPC_DEPS_START
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 86f0d0c563f..fdb434cfed3 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ subprojects {
     apply plugin: "net.ltgt.errorprone"
 
     group = "io.grpc"
-    version = "1.68.1-SNAPSHOT" // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    version = "1.68.1" // 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 a4ae4d6e250..cf529cdfdce 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 1.68.1-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.1)",
     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 49b01286904..06116922ca9 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 1.68.1-SNAPSHOT)",
+    value = "by gRPC proto compiler (version 1.68.1)",
     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 fde0420f1a1..448fe05d554 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 = "1.68.1-SNAPSHOT"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+  public static final String IMPLEMENTATION_VERSION = "1.68.1"; // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 
   /**
    * The default timeout in nanos for a keepalive ping request.
diff --git a/examples/MODULE.bazel b/examples/MODULE.bazel
index 88ec973b038..059af0fef65 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 = "1.68.1-SNAPSHOT")  # CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+bazel_dep(name = "grpc-java", repo_name = "io_grpc_grpc_java", version = "1.68.1")  # 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 c65bf08db30..97ec033ba2f 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.1' // 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1' // 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    testImplementation 'io.grpc:grpc-testing:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 }
diff --git a/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle b/examples/android/helloworld/app/build.gradle
index 65496c9b7d0..498806f41aa 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.1' // 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1' // 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 821e4296aad..5155f516b5d 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.1' // 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1' // 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 bf1889d1316..e276bc5e670 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+        grpc { artifact = 'io.grpc:protoc-gen-grpc-java:1.68.1' // 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:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
-    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-okhttp:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-protobuf-lite:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+    implementation 'io.grpc:grpc-stub:1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
     implementation 'org.apache.tomcat:annotations-api:6.0.53'
 }
diff --git a/examples/build.gradle b/examples/build.gradle
index 9b4bf3369d8..8117aa086b8 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // 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 4f13b251745..9739764c8c6 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/build.gradle b/examples/example-debug/build.gradle
index d64f809c816..60358c737e2 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-debug/pom.xml b/examples/example-debug/pom.xml
index 0b332fd7517..0a091dc3803 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</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 cc7f35a69d7..279eff677eb 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml b/examples/example-dualstack/pom.xml
index a72c23e586e..580c49d4527 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</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 4912774ec56..39de843686c 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // 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 26e04aa0f0c..2bac07ea3f9 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</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 b9892199580..398a3716c7c 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // 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 5c373b7f3fd..9db91263121 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle b/examples/example-hostname/build.gradle
index 9f554653ffd..aaa42af52bf 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protobufVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml b/examples/example-hostname/pom.xml
index f4566c83150..64126c3913b 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</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 8ba1563ec2a..bb09c98d1c3 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // 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 d5750404bfb..7b96eab140e 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</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 68e45487a8e..8b297853b76 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // 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 0c57615b787..ea89ea75dd2 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</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 0ee6bf5412f..40544ccec1b 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // 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 5e693690167..4e29c6da5d5 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle b/examples/example-reflection/build.gradle
index 375d222cb18..206accdb9bc 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle b/examples/example-servlet/build.gradle
index ac8da2313ce..37f70ffe897 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/build.gradle b/examples/example-tls/build.gradle
index 445863b4d86..6229da856f7 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/example-tls/pom.xml b/examples/example-tls/pom.xml
index 91955df7c6c..f935e48f891 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</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 015012b175c..45572d51306 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 = '1.68.1-SNAPSHOT' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
+def grpcVersion = '1.68.1' // CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION
 def protocVersion = '3.25.5'
 
 dependencies {
diff --git a/examples/pom.xml b/examples/pom.xml
index 2b2b1075530..57b0b87882f 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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+  <version>1.68.1</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>1.68.1-SNAPSHOT</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
+    <grpc.version>1.68.1</grpc.version><!-- CURRENT_GRPC_VERSION -->
     <protobuf.version>3.25.5</protobuf.version>
     <protoc.version>3.25.5</protoc.version>
     <!-- required for JDK 8 -->