diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 5c271a3de..b6f982462 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         # only suported versions defined at https://nodejs.org/en/about/previous-releases
-        node_version: [18, 20, 21] # 22 excluded for now, fails on yarn install
+        node_version: [20, 21] # 22 excluded for now, fails on yarn install
 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
index aa8e65405..e6dd296c4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker-publish.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Docker publish to docker.io (6.x)
+name: Docker publish to docker.io (7.x)
 
 on:
   push:
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ on:
       - '.yarnrc.yaml'
       - '.pnp.js'
     branches:
-      - '6.x'
+      - '7.x'
     tags:
      - 'v*'
 
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ jobs:
         uses: crazy-max/ghaction-docker-meta@v1
         with:
           images: ${{ github.repository }}
-          tag-custom: 6.x-next
-          tag-custom-only: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/6.x' }}
+          tag-custom: 7.x-next
+          tag-custom-only: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/7.x' }}
           tag-latest: false
           tag-semver: |
             {{version}}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-snapshot.yml b/.github/workflows/release-snapshot.yml
index 78d462829..ebd958a03 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-snapshot.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-snapshot.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-name: Release Canary 6.x
+name: Release Canary 7.x
 
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
   push:
     branches:
-      - 6.x
+      - 7.x
       - 'canary/**'
 jobs:
   release:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index c66167062..d5c85fe0c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Release 6.x
+name: Release 7.x
 
 on:
   push:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smok-test-docker.yml b/.github/workflows/smok-test-docker.yml
index 50655fe9d..aa0031732 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smok-test-docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/smok-test-docker.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-name: Docker Smoke Test 6.x
+name: Docker Smoke Test 7.x
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
   push:
     branches:
-      - 6.x  
+      - 7.x  
   schedule:
     # run every sunday
     - cron: '0 0 * * 0'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/smok-test-module.yml b/.github/workflows/smok-test-module.yml
index 4c1f4283e..2d4a18e06 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/smok-test-module.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/smok-test-module.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Module Smoke Test 6.x
+name: Module Smoke Test 7.x
 on:
   workflow_dispatch:
   pull_request:
diff --git a/.nvmrc b/.nvmrc
index 3c032078a..209e3ef4b 100644
--- a/.nvmrc
+++ b/.nvmrc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-18
+20
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 4196b1faa..10b4d40a4 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 Full text for contributing can be read [here](https://verdaccio.org/community/contributing).
 
-## Especifics for the branch 6.x
+## Especifics for the branch 7.x
 
-The 6.x uses `yarn berry` with Plug and Play enabled, thus some advices are required for helping contributing:
+The 7.x uses `yarn berry` with Plug and Play enabled, thus some advices are required for helping contributing:
 
 ### Debugging Jest
 
diff --git a/SECURITY.md b/SECURITY.md
index 7885925c3..188db2435 100644
--- a/SECURITY.md
+++ b/SECURITY.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ The following table describes the versions of this project that are currently su
 | 2.x     | :x:                                    |
 | 3.x     | :x:                                    |
 | 4.x     | :x:                                    |
-| 5.x     | :white_check_mark: (until end of 2023) |
+| 5.x     | :white_check_mark: (until end of 2024) |
 | 6.x     | :white_check_mark:                     |
 
 ## Responsible disclosure security policy
diff --git a/babel.config.js b/babel.config.js
index 8fc05557f..2c0f604d6 100644
--- a/babel.config.js
+++ b/babel.config.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ module.exports = {
       '@babel/env',
       {
         targets: {
-          node: '16',
+          node: '20',
         },
       },
     ],
diff --git a/conf/default.yaml b/conf/default.yaml
index 6cfb244b6..ea9929fc4 100644
--- a/conf/default.yaml
+++ b/conf/default.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # improve security.
 #
 # Look here for more config file examples:
-# https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/tree/6.x/conf
+# https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/tree/7.x/conf
 #
 # Read about the best practices
 # https://verdaccio.org/docs/best
diff --git a/conf/docker.yaml b/conf/docker.yaml
index c2b70e2b9..3e58abf32 100644
--- a/conf/docker.yaml
+++ b/conf/docker.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # see https://verdaccio.org/docs/en/docker#docker-and-custom-port-configuration
 #
 # Look here for more config file examples:
-# https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/tree/6.x/conf
+# https://github.com/verdaccio/verdaccio/tree/7.x/conf
 #
 # Read about the best practices
 # https://verdaccio.org/docs/best
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 438766e0b..deca8f732 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "verdaccio",
-  "version": "6.0.0-beta.3",
+  "version": "7.0.0-alpha.0",
   "description": "A lightweight private npm proxy registry",
   "author": {
     "name": "Verdaccio Maintainers",
diff --git a/src/lib/cli/commands/init.ts b/src/lib/cli/commands/init.ts
index f9511b544..f2d2a4fb5 100644
--- a/src/lib/cli/commands/init.ts
+++ b/src/lib/cli/commands/init.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export class InitCommand extends Command {
       if (!configParsed.self_path) {
         configParsed.self_path = path.resolve(configPathLocation);
         this.initLogger(configParsed);
-        // compatibility with 6.x plugins
+        // compatibility with 7.x plugins
         configParsed.configPath = configParsed.self_path;
       }
       if (!configParsed.https) {