diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
index b49f0bb..72529d7 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ body:
         If applicable, provide the version number or release tag where this
         issue was encountered
       options:
+        - v1.8.0
         - v1.7.0
         - v1.5.0
         - v1.4.0
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d816752..d4216e0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,14 @@
 [agntcy/dir]: https://github.com/agntcy/dir
 [agntcy/dir-sdk-python]: https://github.com/agntcy/dir-sdk-python
 
+## 1.8.0 (2026-10-16)
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Breaking:** use identity instead of naming (#146).
+- Updated buf-generated SDK dependencies to track [agntcy/dir][agntcy/dir] `v1.8.0`.
+- Bumped the directory chart and `dirctl` image used in CI to `v1.8.0`.
+
 ## 1.7.0 (2026-09-04)
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index 26efe1e..1c6f765 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ Create a branch for the new release:
    - `examples/pyproject.toml`
    - `.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report.yml`
 2. Update the dependencies if necessary:
-   - [agntcy-dir-grpc-python](https://buf.build/agntcy/dir/sdks/v1.7.0%3Agrpc/python) (Buf SDK)
-   - [agntcy-dir-protocolbuffers-python](https://buf.build/agntcy/dir/sdks/v1.7.0%3Aprotocolbuffers/python) (Buf SDK)
+   - [agntcy-dir-grpc-python](https://buf.build/agntcy/dir/sdks/v1.8.0%3Agrpc/python) (Buf SDK)
+   - [agntcy-dir-protocolbuffers-python](https://buf.build/agntcy/dir/sdks/v1.8.0%3Aprotocolbuffers/python) (Buf SDK)
    - `.github/workflows/ci.yaml` (dir & dir-ctl version)
 3. Add an entry to `CHANGELOG.md`
 
diff --git a/examples/uv.lock b/examples/uv.lock
index 884c3fb..76e10d9 100644
--- a/examples/uv.lock
+++ b/examples/uv.lock
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ requires-python = ">=3.10"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "agntcy-dir"
-version = "1.7.0"
+version = "1.8.0"
 source = { editable = "../" }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "agntcy-dir-grpc-python" },
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 4c81a46..221fb0f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "agntcy-dir"
-version = "1.7.0"
+version = "1.8.0"
 description = "Directory SDK"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.10"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 90ba3fb..fb43d2f 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ resolution-markers = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "agntcy-dir"
-version = "1.7.0"
+version = "1.8.0"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "agntcy-dir-grpc-python" },