diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dbabf07607..e1a94586a8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ set( CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 set(VERSION_MAJOR 3)
 set(VERSION_MINOR 1)
 set(VERSION_PATCH 0)
-set(VERSION_SUFFIX dev)
+set(VERSION_SUFFIX rc1)
 
 if(VERSION_SUFFIX)
     set(VERSION_FULL "${VERSION_MAJOR}.${VERSION_MINOR}.${VERSION_PATCH}-${VERSION_SUFFIX}")
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e080047c47..4a4fd93484 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 # Mandel
 
+Home of the official [EOS Network Foundation](https://eosnetwork.com/) blockchain node software.
+
 ## Repo organization
 
 | branch                | description |
 | ------                | ----------- |
 | `main`                | Development for future releases |
-| `release/3.0.x`       | 3.0.x-* series of releases |
+| `release/3.0.x`       | 3.0.x-* series of pre-releases before 3.1.x |
+| `release/3.1.x`       | 3.1.x* series of 3.1.0 releases |
 
 ## Supported Operating Systems
 
@@ -19,7 +22,6 @@ To speed up development and reduce support overhead, we're initially only suppor
 
 ```
 apt-get update && apt-get install   \
-        binaryen                    \
         build-essential             \
         cmake                       \
         curl                        \