diff --git a/RELEASES.md b/RELEASES.md
index f5a0a74e..eed762f2 100644
--- a/RELEASES.md
+++ b/RELEASES.md
@@ -10,7 +10,16 @@ Full auto-generated changelog: `CHANGELOG.md` · Releases: https://github.com/so
 
 ---
 
-## v8.0.0 — release candidate (`8.0.0-rc.7` published 2026-06-30 on npm tag `rc`)
+## v8.0.0 — release candidate (`8.0.0-rc.8` published 2026-06-30 on npm tag `rc`)
+
+> **rc.8 additions (2026-06-30) — additive, no breaking change:**
+> - **No-freeze (online) whole-brain auto-upgrade.** When a derived-index format changes, a large
+>   brain upgrades **without blocking** — the native provider rebuilds the new indexes in the
+>   background and serves correct reads from the canonical records meanwhile, then atomically swaps;
+>   no minutes-long freeze on the first open/query. (Small brains still auto-rebuild inline on open.)
+>   New surface: an optional provider `isMigrating()` deference signal, a public `brain.stampBrainFormat()`
+>   the provider calls once its swap verifies, and a `@soulcraft/brainy/brain-format` export so the
+>   provider shares the `indexEpoch` constant. No effect without a native provider.
 
 > **rc.7 additions (2026-06-30) — additive, no breaking change:**
 > - **8.0 cold-graph self-heal.** `find({ connected })` / `neighbors()` / `related()` never