diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e8bf73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0.1.0
diff --git a/version.go b/version.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a950ed1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/version.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// Package contracts provides cross-repo type contracts for hawk-eco.
+//
+// The Version variable is sourced from the VERSION file at the repo root.
+package contracts
+
+import (
+	_ "embed"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+//go:embed VERSION
+var versionFile string
+
+// Version of the hawk-core-contracts library. Single source of truth: VERSION file.
+var Version = strings.TrimSpace(versionFile)