diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6441be9..9ac80b5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,37 @@ the [versioning policy](https://teqpace-services.github.io/isopace/versioning/).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [1.0.0-rc.1] - 2026-06-09
+
+First release candidate for `v1.0.0`. This is an **interim, feedback-seeking
+tag under a "may still change" banner** — not the v1.0.0 contract itself. Per
+the [roadmap to v1](ROADMAP-to-v1.md), it deliberately **narrows** what v1 will
+freeze and is published to gather integration feedback before the API freeze:
+
+- **Stable candidate — the core.** `iso8583`, `packager`, `fieldcodec`,
+  `lengthcodec`, and `render` are proposed for the v1 API freeze. Feedback is
+  solicited against these surfaces specifically.
+- **Experimental — may still change.** The higher layers (`runtime`, `flow`,
+  `space`, `store`, `mux`, `link`, `listener`, `connector`, `gateway`, `teq`,
+  `vault`, `rbac`, `ops`) remain explicitly experimental and are **not** covered
+  by the rc's stability intent until they have soaked.
+- **Production crypto (HSM) is not yet shipped.** The only `vault` backends are
+  software (`SoftVault`, `SealedVault`); the certified-HSM / PKCS#11 path
+  (roadmap B1) is outstanding. Do not treat the crypto path as production-ready.
+
+No code change since `0.3.0` in the root module; the OpenTelemetry and SQL
+adapters ship as separate modules (`adapters/otel`, `adapters/sql`) so the core
+dependency graph stays empty. Still **stdlib-only**; every package is
+`gofmt`/`go vet` clean and tested under `go test -race`.
+
+### Added
+
+- **`adapters/otel/` and `adapters/sql/`** — the first production integrations as
+  standalone modules (each its own `go.mod`): a `runtime.Observer` over the
+  OpenTelemetry SDK, and a `store.Store` over `database/sql` (driver chosen by the
+  integrator, so none enters the core graph). The root module remains
+  dependency-free.
+
 ### Changed
 
 - **Docs:** corrected the `CoralPay` / `Zone` profile descriptions to state their
@@ -184,7 +215,8 @@ tested under `go test -race`.
   authenticates in constant time; expose it only behind appropriate network
   controls.
 
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/compare/v0.3.0...HEAD
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/compare/v1.0.0-rc.1...HEAD
+[1.0.0-rc.1]: https://github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/compare/v0.3.0...v1.0.0-rc.1
 [0.3.0]: https://github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/compare/v0.2.0...v0.3.0
 [0.2.0]: https://github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/compare/v0.1.0...v0.2.0
 [0.1.0]: https://github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/releases/tag/v0.1.0
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 37a3d3d..726e7d5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,14 +9,16 @@ It is an independent, clean-room implementation in the spirit of
 zero-copy decoding, a pluggable codec catalog, and goroutine-native concurrency.
 The module is **stdlib-only** — no third-party dependency in the module graph.
 
-> **Status: `v0.3.0` — acquirer-profiles release.** Adds the `CoralPay` and
-> `Zone` ISO 8583:1987 switch profiles (each a clean-room layout composed from
-> public ISO 8583:1987 field semantics), a prefix-keyed SHA-256 message MAC, and a
-> fixed-width `tlv` codec. Feature-complete across the planned layers and tested
-> under `-race`, but pre-1.0: the API may change between minor versions (see
-> [`docs/versioning.md`](docs/versioning.md)). The software `Vault` backend is
-> for development/testing — production PIN and key handling require a certified
-> HSM.
+> **Status: `v1.0.0-rc.1` — first release candidate.** An **interim,
+> feedback-seeking** tag under a "may still change" banner — not the v1.0.0
+> contract yet (see the [roadmap to v1](ROADMAP-to-v1.md)). It narrows what v1
+> will freeze: the **core** — `iso8583`, `packager`, `fieldcodec`,
+> `lengthcodec`, `render` — is a stability candidate and the surface we want
+> feedback on; the **higher layers** (`runtime`, `flow`, `space`, `store`,
+> transport, `gateway`, `teq`, `vault`, `rbac`, `ops`) remain **experimental**
+> until they soak. The software `Vault` backend is for development/testing —
+> **production PIN and key handling require a certified HSM, which is not yet
+> shipped.** Still stdlib-only; tested under `-race`.
 
 A product of **[Teqpace Services Ltd.](https://teqpace.com)**
 
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index 2c63afb..b83b786 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ building blocks needed to run a switch.
 ![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-AGPL--3.0%20%2F%20commercial-blue)
 ![Go](https://img.shields.io/badge/Go-1.26-00ADD8?logo=go&logoColor=white)
 ![Dependencies](https://img.shields.io/badge/dependencies-stdlib--only-success)
-![Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/status-v0.3.0%20·%20pre--1.0-orange)
+![Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/status-v1.0.0--rc.1-orange)
 </p>
 
 [Get started :material-rocket-launch:](getting-started.md){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
@@ -36,13 +36,16 @@ access, zero-copy decoding, a pluggable codec catalog, and goroutine-native
 concurrency. The module is **stdlib-only** — there is no third-party dependency
 anywhere in its graph.
 
-!!! warning "Pre-1.0 — `v0.3.0`, the acquirer-profiles release"
+!!! warning "`v1.0.0-rc.1` — first release candidate (interim, may still change)"
 
-    Feature-complete across the planned layers and tested under `-race`, but the
-    API may change between minor versions (see the
+    A feedback-seeking tag under a "may still change" banner — **not the v1.0.0
+    contract yet** (see the [roadmap to v1](https://github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/blob/main/ROADMAP-to-v1.md)).
+    It narrows what v1 will freeze: the **core** (`iso8583`, `packager`,
+    `fieldcodec`, `lengthcodec`, `render`) is a stability candidate; the
+    **higher layers** remain experimental until they soak (see the
     [versioning policy](versioning.md)). The software `Vault` backend is for
     development and testing — **production PIN and key handling require a
-    certified HSM.**
+    certified HSM, which is not yet shipped.**
 
 ## Why Isopace
 
diff --git a/examples/simulator/main.go b/examples/simulator/main.go
index 06fcf1a..5604cec 100644
--- a/examples/simulator/main.go
+++ b/examples/simulator/main.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/teqpace-services/isopace/runtime"
 )
 
-const version = "0.3.0"
+const version = "1.0.0-rc.1"
 
 func main() {
 	posAddr := flag.String("addr", "127.0.0.1:8583", "ISO-8583 listen address")
diff --git a/simulator b/simulator
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..71257c9
Binary files /dev/null and b/simulator differ