diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f057833b46d7..a3d0c60fce07 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,51 +1,5 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## [1.15.1] (2025-02-04)
-
-[1.15.1]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/releases/1.15.1
-
-### Bugfixes
-
-#### stdlib
-
-- *(networking)* Disable directory path redirect when `directory_listing=false` ([#15393], thanks @straight-shoota)
-- *(runtime)* **[regression]** Fix: abstract `EventLoop::Polling#system_add` invalid signature ([#15380], thanks @github-actions)
-- *(system)* **[regression]** Fix GC `sig_suspend`, `sig_resume` for `gc_none` ([#15382], backported from [#15349], thanks @ysbaddaden)
-
-[#15393]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15393
-[#15380]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15380
-[#15382]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15382
-[#15349]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15349
-
-### Documentation
-
-#### stdlib
-
-- *(system)* Fix code example in `Process::Status#exit_code` docs ([#15381], backported from [#15351], thanks @zw963)
-
-[#15381]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15381
-[#15351]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15351
-
-### Infrastructure
-
-- Changelog for 1.15.1 ([#15401], thanks @straight-shoota)
-- Add backports to changelog generator ([#15402], thanks @straight-shoota)
-- Update distribution-scripts ([#15385], backported from [#15368], thanks @straight-shoota)
-- Update distribution-scripts ([#15388], thanks @straight-shoota)
-- *(ci)* Add build shards to `mingw-w64` workflow ([#15344], thanks @straight-shoota)
-- *(ci)* Update shards 0.19.1 ([#15384], backported from [#15366], thanks @straight-shoota)
-- *(ci)* Add check for shards binary in `test_dist_linux_on_docker` ([#15394], thanks @straight-shoota)
-
-[#15401]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15401
-[#15402]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15402
-[#15385]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15385
-[#15368]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15368
-[#15388]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15388
-[#15344]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15344
-[#15384]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15384
-[#15366]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15366
-[#15394]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/pull/15394
-
 ## [1.15.0] (2025-01-09)
 
 [1.15.0]: https://github.com/crystal-lang/crystal/releases/1.15.0
diff --git a/shard.yml b/shard.yml
index 5104666e2ff0..e979cf04bbec 100644
--- a/shard.yml
+++ b/shard.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name: crystal
-version: 1.15.1
+version: 1.16.0-dev
 
 authors:
 - Crystal Core Team <crystal@manas.tech>
diff --git a/src/SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH b/src/SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH
deleted file mode 100644
index e200f06cd97f..000000000000
--- a/src/SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-1738627200
diff --git a/src/VERSION b/src/VERSION
index ace44233b4aa..1f0d2f335194 100644
--- a/src/VERSION
+++ b/src/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.15.1
+1.16.0-dev