diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bdee88dd48..cc5c3e313a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,28 @@
 # Aries Cloud Agent Python Changelog
 
+## 0.12.2rc1
+
+A patch release to add the verification of a linkage between an inbound message and its associated connection (if any) before processing the message. Also adds some additional cleanup/fix PRs from the main branch (see list below) that might be useful for deployments currently using [Release 0.12.1](#0121).
+
+### 0.12.2rc1 Breaking Changes
+
+There are no breaking changes in this release.
+
+#### 0.12.2rc1 Categorized List of Pull Requests
+
+- Dependency update and release PR
+  - Patch release 0.12.x [\#3121](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/3121) [jamshale](https://github.com/jamshale)
+- Release management pull requests
+  - 0.12.2rc1 [\#3123](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/3123) [swcurran](https://github.com/swcurran)
+- PRs cherry-picked into [\#3121](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/3120) from the `main` branch:
+  - Check connection is ready in all connection required handlers [\#3095](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/3095) [jamshale](https://github.com/jamshale)
+  - fix: multiuse invites with did peer 4 [\#3112](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/3112) [dbluhm](https://github.com/dbluhm)
+  - fix: respond to did:peer:1 with did:peer:4 [\#3050](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/3050) [dbluhm](https://github.com/dbluhm)
+  - feat: soft binding for plugin flexibility [\#3010](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/3010) [dbluhm](https://github.com/dbluhm)
+  - feat: inject profile and session [\#2997](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/2997) [dbluhm](https://github.com/dbluhm)
+  - feat: external signature suite provider interface [\#2835](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/2835) [dbluhm](https://github.com/dbluhm)
+  - fix(interop): overly strict validation [\#2943](https://github.com/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python/pull/2943) [dbluhm](https://github.com/dbluhm)
+
 ## 0.12.1
 
 ### April 26, 2024
diff --git a/docs/features/DIDResolution.md b/docs/features/DIDResolution.md
index 23144a894a..c079394240 100644
--- a/docs/features/DIDResolution.md
+++ b/docs/features/DIDResolution.md
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ plugin:
 The following is a fully functional Dockerfile encapsulating this setup:
 
 ```dockerfile=
-FROM ghcr.io/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python:py3.9-0.12.1
+FROM ghcr.io/hyperledger/aries-cloudagent-python:py3.9-0.12.2rc1
 RUN pip3 install git+https://github.com/dbluhm/acapy-resolver-github
 
 CMD ["aca-py", "start", "-it", "http", "0.0.0.0", "3000", "-ot", "http", "-e", "http://localhost:3000", "--admin", "0.0.0.0", "3001", "--admin-insecure-mode", "--no-ledger", "--plugin", "acapy_resolver_github"]
diff --git a/docs/features/SupportedRFCs.md b/docs/features/SupportedRFCs.md
index 2e6048858e..d18e171e65 100644
--- a/docs/features/SupportedRFCs.md
+++ b/docs/features/SupportedRFCs.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ ACA-Py or the repository `main` branch. Reminders (and PRs!) to update this page
 welcome! If you have any questions, please contact us on the #aries channel on
 [Hyperledger Discord](https://discord.gg/hyperledger) or through an issue in this repo.
 
-**Last Update**: 2024-05-01, Release 0.12.1
+**Last Update**: 2024-05-01, Release 0.12.2rc1
 
 > The checklist version of this document was created as a joint effort
 > between [Northern Block](https://northernblock.io/), [Animo Solutions](https://animo.id/) and the Ontario government, on behalf of the Ontario government.
diff --git a/open-api/openapi.json b/open-api/openapi.json
index cb0e2fefe3..a20f1a85a3 100644
--- a/open-api/openapi.json
+++ b/open-api/openapi.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "openapi" : "3.0.1",
   "info" : {
     "title" : "Aries Cloud Agent",
-    "version" : "v0.12.1"
+    "version" : "v0.12.2rc1"
   },
   "servers" : [ {
     "url" : "/"
@@ -11470,7 +11470,6 @@
           "domain" : {
             "description" : "A string value specifying the restricted domain of the signature.",
             "example" : "https://example.com",
-            "pattern" : "\\w+:(\\/?\\/?)[^\\s]+",
             "type" : "string"
           },
           "jws" : {
diff --git a/open-api/swagger.json b/open-api/swagger.json
index a6741ced04..7d1c926eb7 100644
--- a/open-api/swagger.json
+++ b/open-api/swagger.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "swagger" : "2.0",
   "info" : {
-    "version" : "v0.12.1",
+    "version" : "v0.12.2rc1",
     "title" : "Aries Cloud Agent"
   },
   "tags" : [ {
@@ -9986,8 +9986,7 @@
         "domain" : {
           "type" : "string",
           "example" : "https://example.com",
-          "description" : "A string value specifying the restricted domain of the signature.",
-          "pattern" : "\\w+:(\\/?\\/?)[^\\s]+"
+          "description" : "A string value specifying the restricted domain of the signature."
         },
         "jws" : {
           "type" : "string",
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index f5b83f8c64..2f6e4fd925 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "aries_cloudagent"
-version = "0.12.1"
+version = "0.12.2rc1"
 description = "Hyperledger Aries Cloud Agent Python (ACA-Py) is a foundation for building decentralized identity applications and services running in non-mobile environments. "
 authors = ["Hyperledger Aries <aries@lists.hyperledger.org>"]
 license = "Apache-2.0"