diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 71cf264..5f30fd5 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import os
 import sys
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('..'))
-VERSION="ElectrumX 1.7.3"
+VERSION="ElectrumX 1.8beta"
 
 # -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/electrumx/__init__.py b/electrumx/__init__.py
index bac812b..d8a075c 100644
--- a/electrumx/__init__.py
+++ b/electrumx/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-version = 'ElectrumX 1.7.3'
+version = 'ElectrumX 1.8beta'
 version_short = version.split()[-1]
 
 from electrumx.server.controller import Controller
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ee25e3c..2a1a11e 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import setuptools
-version = '1.7.3'
+version = '1.8'
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name='electrumX',