diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a5c654d..83989a8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # CHANGELOG
 
+## Version 0.5.4 (2024-12-19)
+ - Updates `kotlincrypto.core` to `0.5.4`
+ - Updates `kotlincrypto.sponges` to `0.3.2`
+ - Adds benchmarking to repository [[#69]][69]
+     - Benchmark comparisons using `core` and `sponges` performance 
+       improvements can be veiwed in [PR #70][70-comment]
+     - TL;DR huge gains for `sha3`
+
 ## Version 0.5.3 (2024-08-31)
  - Updates `kotlincrypto.core` to `0.5.3`
  - Updates `kotlincrypto.endians` to `0.3.1`
@@ -128,3 +136,5 @@
 [58]: https://github.com/KotlinCrypto/hash/pull/58
 [59]: https://github.com/KotlinCrypto/hash/pull/59
 [65]: https://github.com/KotlinCrypto/hash/pull/65
+[69]: https://github.com/KotlinCrypto/hash/pull/69
+[70-comment]: https://github.com/KotlinCrypto/hash/pull/70#issuecomment-2554683182
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2004c71..4c2273c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ shown below.
 // build.gradle.kts
 dependencies {
     // define the BOM and its version
-    implementation(platform("org.kotlincrypto.hash:bom:0.5.3"))
+    implementation(platform("org.kotlincrypto.hash:bom:0.5.4"))
 
     // define artifacts without version
     
@@ -139,14 +139,14 @@ dependencies {
 ```
 
 <!-- TAG_VERSION -->
-[badge-latest-release]: https://img.shields.io/badge/latest--release-0.5.3-blue.svg?style=flat
+[badge-latest-release]: https://img.shields.io/badge/latest--release-0.5.4-blue.svg?style=flat
 [badge-license]: https://img.shields.io/badge/license-Apache%20License%202.0-blue.svg?style=flat
 
 <!-- TAG_DEPENDENCIES -->
 [badge-kotlin]: https://img.shields.io/badge/kotlin-1.9.24-blue.svg?logo=kotlin
-[badge-core]: https://img.shields.io/badge/kotlincrypto.core-0.5.3-blue.svg
+[badge-core]: https://img.shields.io/badge/kotlincrypto.core-0.5.4-blue.svg
 [badge-endians]: https://img.shields.io/badge/kotlincrypto.endians-0.3.1-blue.svg
-[badge-sponges]: https://img.shields.io/badge/kotlincrypto.sponges-0.3.1-blue.svg
+[badge-sponges]: https://img.shields.io/badge/kotlincrypto.sponges-0.3.2-blue.svg
 
 <!-- TAG_PLATFORMS -->
 [badge-platform-android]: http://img.shields.io/badge/-android-6EDB8D.svg?style=flat
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 9d76df3..2ab6668 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ POM_DEVELOPER_ID=KotlinCrypto
 POM_DEVELOPER_NAME=Kotlin Crypto
 POM_DEVELOPER_URL=https://github.com/KotlinCrypto/
 
-VERSION_NAME=0.5.4-SNAPSHOT
+VERSION_NAME=0.5.4
 # 0.1.0-alpha01 = 00 01 00 11
 # 0.1.0-beta01  = 00 01 00 21
 # 0.1.0-rc01    = 00 01 00 31