diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 65677fb..c2ea304 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ and this project adheres to Semantic Versioning.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Changed
+- this observer now speaks your journal's version-3 linked-device ingest contract. its device certificate identifies it for that co-experience, and it releases local capture data only after your journal proves it holds the same bytes.
+
 ## [1.0.2] - 2026-08-01
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 72a87ae..b209329 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ solstone-linux status
 
 ## Protocol contract
 
-The `observer-client` contract is owned by the journal and frozen here as a byte-exact, language-neutral bundle at `vendor/observer-client-contract/`. This app adopts bundle version 8.0.0 and verifies it offline with `make check-observer-contract`.
+The `observer-client` contract is owned by the journal and frozen here as a byte-exact, language-neutral bundle at `vendor/observer-client-contract/`. This app adopts bundle version 9.0.0 and verifies it offline with `make check-observer-contract`.
 
-The bundle version, the solstone-linux application release, and wire-protocol version 2 are independent versions. When the app and authority disagree, resolve the incompatibility at the journal authority first; do not rewrite the vendored contract or weaken consumer conformance.
+The bundle version, the solstone-linux application release, and wire-protocol version 3 are independent versions. When the app and authority disagree, resolve the incompatibility at the journal authority first; do not rewrite the vendored contract or weaken consumer conformance.
 
 See `contracts/README.md` for the verified import ritual and public provenance record.
 
diff --git a/contracts/README.md b/contracts/README.md
index e7c3dfe..6ff7b2f 100644
--- a/contracts/README.md
+++ b/contracts/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Observer-client contract import
 
-The solstone journal owns the observer-client contract. solstone-linux keeps a frozen, byte-exact copy of bundle version 8.0.0 in `vendor/observer-client-contract/` so this observer can verify the agreement fully offline while experiencing the desktop along with its owner.
+The solstone journal owns the observer-client contract. solstone-linux keeps a frozen, byte-exact copy of bundle version 9.0.0 in `vendor/observer-client-contract/` so this observer can verify the agreement fully offline while experiencing the desktop along with its owner.
 
 To adopt an authority revision: