diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 34883b5..3c1e1c6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
 - **encode/decode:** pool and pre-allocate interned-string dict — `SetInternedStringsDictCap(n)` pre-sizes the dict to avoid map rehashing and slice growth; pooled encoders/decoders now reuse dict storage across `Reset()` (cleared in place) instead of discarding it, and `Put*()` drops oversized dicts to keep the pool lean ([#66](https://github.com/Basekick-Labs/msgpack/issues/66))
 - **decode:** hoist `newValue()` allocations out of `decodeTypedMapValue` loop — reuses a single key slot and value slot across all map entries, zeroing between iterations. Takes typed-map decode from 2N `reflect.New()` calls to 2 per map ([#65](https://github.com/Basekick-Labs/msgpack/issues/65)) (BenchmarkLargeMapIntInt **-50% allocs/op**, **-50% B/op**, **-10% ns/op** for 1000-entry `map[int]int`)
 
+### Chores
+
+- Lower `go.mod` directive from 1.26 to 1.25 — preserves drop-in compatibility for downstream users on Go 1.25; CI matrix unchanged (1.25.x, 1.26.x) ([#70](https://github.com/Basekick-Labs/msgpack/issues/70))
+
 ---
 
 ## v6.0.0 (Basekick-Labs fork)
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 1ccb447..c3a53e6 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/Basekick-Labs/msgpack/v6
 
-go 1.26
+go 1.25
 
 require (
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.6.1