diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 1dae6e5d..2f9506c2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
         os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest]
-        python: ["3.7", "3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "pypy3.9", "pypy3.10"]
+        python: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "pypy3.9", "pypy3.10"]
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 6f11c26a..1dbd36ad 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ repos:
     rev: v3.9.0
     hooks:
       - id: pyupgrade
-        args: [--py37-plus]
+        args: [--py38-plus]
         # exclude: *fixtures
         language: python
         types: [python]
diff --git a/.sourcery.yaml b/.sourcery.yaml
index 68856ece..7b54d568 100644
--- a/.sourcery.yaml
+++ b/.sourcery.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 # 📚 For a complete reference to this file, see the documentation at
 # https://docs.sourcery.ai/Configuration/Project-Settings/
 
-# This file was auto-generated by Sourcery on 2023-01-01 at 13:20.
+# This file was auto-generated by Sourcery on 2023-07-08 at 01:13.
 
 version: "1" # The schema version of this config file
 
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ ignore: # A list of paths or files which Sourcery will ignore.
   - env
   - .env
   - .tox
+  - node_modules
+  - vendor
 
 rule_settings:
   enable:
@@ -27,12 +29,13 @@ rule_settings:
     - refactoring
     - suggestion
     - comment
-  python_version: "3.7" # A string specifying the lowest Python version your project supports. Sourcery will not suggest refactorings requiring a higher Python version.
+  python_version: "3.8" # A string specifying the lowest Python version your project supports. Sourcery will not suggest refactorings requiring a higher Python version.
 
 # rules:  # A list of custom rules Sourcery will include in its analysis.
 # - id: no-print-statements
 #   description: Do not use print statements in the test directory.
 #   pattern: print(...)
+#   language: python
 #   replacement:
 #   condition:
 #   explanation:
diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index 1b17676f..935dd959 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ Notable changes to the codebase are documented here.
 Release names follow *[calendar versioning](https://calver.org/)*:
 full year, short month, short day (YYYY-M-D)
 
+## v2023.8 (work in progress, not released yet)
+
+Major changes includes:
+
+- dropped python 3.7 support
+
 ## v2023.7.12
 
 This is the last release supporting py37.
diff --git a/btclib/__init__.py b/btclib/__init__.py
index 8ebdbb70..8ebfa1b4 100644
--- a/btclib/__init__.py
+++ b/btclib/__init__.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 """__init__ module for the btclib package."""
 
 name = "btclib"
-__version__ = "2023.7.12"
+__version__ = "2023.8"
 __author__ = "The btclib developers"
 __author_email__ = "devs@btclib.org"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright (C) 2017-2023 The btclib developers"
diff --git a/btclib/b58.py b/btclib/b58.py
index 527fee50..5741526c 100644
--- a/btclib/b58.py
+++ b/btclib/b58.py
@@ -75,10 +75,7 @@ def h160_from_address(b58addr: String) -> tuple[str, bytes, str]:
     prefix = payload[:1]
 
     for script_type in ("p2pkh", "p2sh"):
-        # with python>=3.8 use walrus operator
-        # if network := network_from_key_value(script_type, prefix):
-        network = network_from_key_value(script_type, prefix)
-        if network:
+        if network := network_from_key_value(script_type, prefix):
             return script_type, payload[1:], network
 
     err_msg = f"invalid base58 address prefix: 0x{prefix.hex()}"
diff --git a/btclib/bip32/slip132.py b/btclib/bip32/slip132.py
index 0723459e..ee99185f 100644
--- a/btclib/bip32/slip132.py
+++ b/btclib/bip32/slip132.py
@@ -58,10 +58,7 @@ def address_from_xpub(xpub: BIP32Key) -> str:
         b58.p2wpkh_p2sh,
     ]
     for version, function in zip(version_list, function_list):
-        # with python>=3.8 use walrus operator
-        # if network := network_from_key_value(version, xpub.version):
-        network = network_from_key_value(version, xpub.version)
-        if network:
+        if network := network_from_key_value(version, xpub.version):
             return function(xpub, network)
     err_msg = f"unknown xpub version: {xpub.version.hex()}"  # pragma: no cover
     raise BTClibValueError(err_msg)  # pragma: no cover
diff --git a/btclib/ec/curve_group.py b/btclib/ec/curve_group.py
index f437b229..34d31f8e 100644
--- a/btclib/ec/curve_group.py
+++ b/btclib/ec/curve_group.py
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ def multiples(Q: JacPoint, size: int, ec: CurveGroup) -> list[JacPoint]:
 MAX_W = 5
 
 
-@functools.lru_cache()  # results are cached to increase efficiency
+@functools.lru_cache  # results are cached to increase efficiency
 def cached_multiples(Q: JacPoint, ec: CurveGroup) -> list[JacPoint]:
     T = [INFJ, Q]
     for i in range(3, 2**MAX_W, 2):
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ def cached_multiples(Q: JacPoint, ec: CurveGroup) -> list[JacPoint]:
     return T
 
 
-@functools.lru_cache()  # results are cached to increase efficiency
+@functools.lru_cache  # results are cached to increase efficiency
 def cached_multiples_fixwind(
     Q: JacPoint, ec: CurveGroup, w: int = 4
 ) -> list[list[JacPoint]]:
diff --git a/btclib/psbt/psbt.py b/btclib/psbt/psbt.py
index 967eaf76..57d44deb 100644
--- a/btclib/psbt/psbt.py
+++ b/btclib/psbt/psbt.py
@@ -144,10 +144,7 @@ def assert_signable(self) -> None:
         for i, tx_in in enumerate(self.tx.vin):
             non_witness_utxo = self.inputs[i].non_witness_utxo
             redeem_script = self.inputs[i].redeem_script
-            # with python>=3.8 use walrus operator
-            # if witness_utxo := self.inputs[i].witness_utxo:
-            witness_utxo = self.inputs[i].witness_utxo
-            if witness_utxo:
+            if witness_utxo := self.inputs[i].witness_utxo:
                 script_pub_key = witness_utxo.script_pub_key
                 script_type, payload = type_and_payload(script_pub_key.script)
                 if script_type == "p2sh":
diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 3c87300d..16a281fb 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 project = "btclib"
 project_copyright = "2017-2023 The btclib developers"
 author = "The btclib developers"
-release = "2023.7.12"
+release = "2023.8"
 
 # -- General configuration ---------------------------------------------------
 # https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/usage/configuration.html#general-configuration
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 63340d14..41693e35 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -44,11 +44,10 @@
         "bip32 bip39 electrum base58 bech32 segwit message-signing "
         "bip340"
     ),
-    python_requires=">=3.7",
+    python_requires=">=3.8",
     classifiers=[
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
-        "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",