diff --git a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
index f64e6c0580..e0a517ab06 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
+++ b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ RUN rm /usr/bin/cc && ln -s /usr/bin/clang /usr/bin/cc
 # Install protoc - protobuf compiler
 # The one shipped with Alpine does not work
 ARG TARGETARCH
-ARG PROTOC_VERSION=25.2
+ARG PROTOC_VERSION=27.3
 RUN if [[ "$TARGETARCH" == "arm64" ]] ; then export PROTOC_ARCH=aarch_64; else export PROTOC_ARCH=x86_64; fi; \
     curl -Ls https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v${PROTOC_VERSION}/protoc-${PROTOC_VERSION}-linux-${PROTOC_ARCH}.zip \
     -o /tmp/protoc.zip && \
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ RUN if [[ "$TARGETARCH" == "arm64" ]] ; then export PROTOC_ARCH=aarch_64; else e
     rm /tmp/protoc.zip && \
     ln -s /opt/protoc/bin/protoc /usr/bin/
 
-# Install protoc v25.2+
-RUN curl -OL https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v25.2/protoc-25.2-linux-x86_64.zip \
-    && unzip protoc-25.2-linux-x86_64.zip -d /usr/local \
-    && rm protoc-25.2-linux-x86_64.zip
+# Install protoc
+RUN curl -OL https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v${PROTOC_VERSION}/protoc-${PROTOC_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip \
+    && unzip protoc-${PROTOC_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip -d /usr/local \
+    && rm protoc-${PROTOC_VERSION}-linux-x86_64.zip
 
 # Switch to vscode user
 USER vscode
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fd688fbc88..46e02e1db7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ this repository may be used on the following networks:
   - [node.js](https://nodejs.org/) v20
   - [docker](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) v20.10+
   - [rust](https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install) v1.80+, with wasm32 target (`rustup target add wasm32-unknown-unknown`)
-  - [protoc - protobuf compiler](https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases) v25.2+
+  - [protoc - protobuf compiler](https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases) v27.3+
     - if needed, set PROTOC environment variable to location of `protoc` binary
   - [wasm-bingen toolchain](https://rustwasm.github.io/wasm-bindgen/):
     - **IMPORTANT (OSX only)**: built-in `llvm` on OSX does not work, needs to be installed from brew: