diff --git a/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/net/eth/EthHandler.java b/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/net/eth/EthHandler.java
index 8b80fd0d..b38b7fdd 100644
--- a/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/net/eth/EthHandler.java
+++ b/ethereumj-core/src/main/java/org/ethereum/net/eth/EthHandler.java
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ import static org.ethereum.net.message.StaticMessages.GET_TRANSACTIONS_MESSAGE;
 @Scope("prototype")
 public class EthHandler extends SimpleChannelInboundHandler<EthMessage> {
 
-    public final static byte VERSION = 52;
+    public final static byte VERSION = 53;
     public final static byte NETWORK_ID = 0x0;
 
     private final static Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger("net");