diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES b/RELEASE-NOTES
index 41a87c0f..8edef06a 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# Release 2.5.3 (bugfixes)
+ * installwizard: do not allow direct copy-paste of the seed
+ * installwizard: fix bug #1531 (starting offline)
+
 # Release 2.5.2 (bugfixes)
  * fix bug #1513 (client tries to broadcast transaction while not connected)
  * fix synchronization bug (#1520)
diff --git a/lib/version.py b/lib/version.py
index 2a2f71c4..b99f568c 100644
--- a/lib/version.py
+++ b/lib/version.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ELECTRUM_VERSION = '2.5.2'  # version of the client package
+ELECTRUM_VERSION = '2.5.3'  # version of the client package
 PROTOCOL_VERSION = '0.10'   # protocol version requested
 NEW_SEED_VERSION = 11       # electrum versions >= 2.0
 OLD_SEED_VERSION = 4        # electrum versions < 2.0