diff --git a/wp-config-sample.php b/wp-config-sample.php
index 4531bdf834..8f96fb0f4c 100644
--- a/wp-config-sample.php
+++ b/wp-config-sample.php
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here' );
 define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );
 
 /** Database charset to use in creating database tables. */
-define( 'DB_CHARSET', 'utf8' );
+define( 'DB_CHARSET', 'utf8mb4' );
 
 /** The database collate type. Don't change this if in doubt. */
 define( 'DB_COLLATE', '' );
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 35f9790c59..e7a4016077 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.9-alpha-60628';
+$wp_version = '6.9-alpha-60629';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.