diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1c59f23e8d..834a34e919 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -50,21 +50,30 @@ jobs:
         with:
           alias: "fmt-stacks"
 
-  ######################################################################################
-  ## Check if the branch that this workflow is being run against is a release branch
+  ## Check if the head branch of the PR is a release branch
+  ##
+  ## Runs when the following is true:
+  ##  - The workflow was triggered by a `workflow_dispatch` action
   check-release:
+    if: |
+      (
+        github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
+      )
     name: Check Release
     needs:
       - rustfmt
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     outputs:
-      tag: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.tag }}
-      docker_tag: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.docker_tag }}
-      is_release: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.is_release }}
+      node_tag: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.node_tag }}
+      node_docker_tag: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.node_docker_tag }}
+      signer_tag: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.signer_tag }}
+      signer_docker_tag: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.signer_docker_tag }}
+      is_node_release: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.is_node_release }}
+      is_signer_release: ${{ steps.check_release.outputs.is_signer_release }}
     steps:
       - name: Check Release
         id: check_release
-        uses: stacks-network/actions/stacks-core/check-release@main
+        uses: stacks-network/actions/stacks-core/release/check-release@main
         with:
           tag: ${{ github.ref_name }}
 
@@ -75,15 +84,20 @@ jobs:
   ##  - it is a release run
   create-release:
     if: |
-      needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true'
-    name: Create Release
+      needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release == 'true' ||
+      needs.check-release.outputs.is_signer_release == 'true'
+    name: Create Release(s)
     needs:
       - rustfmt
       - check-release
     uses: ./.github/workflows/github-release.yml
     with:
-      tag: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.tag }}
-      docker_tag: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.docker_tag }}
+      node_tag: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.node_tag }}
+      node_docker_tag: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.node_docker_tag }}
+      signer_tag: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.signer_tag }}
+      signer_docker_tag: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.signer_docker_tag }}
+      is_node_release: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release }}
+      is_signer_release: ${{ needs.check-release.outputs.is_signer_release }}
     secrets: inherit
 
   ## Build and push Debian image built from source
@@ -92,7 +106,7 @@ jobs:
   ##  - it is not a release run
   docker-image:
     if: |
-      needs.check-release.outputs.is_release != 'true'
+      needs.check-release.outputs.is_signer_release != 'true'
     name: Docker Image (Source)
     uses: ./.github/workflows/image-build-source.yml
     needs:
@@ -112,7 +126,7 @@ jobs:
   ##         - commit to either (development, master) branch
   create-cache:
     if: |
-      needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true' || (
+      needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release == 'true' || (
         github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
         github.event_name == 'pull_request' ||
         github.event_name == 'merge_group' ||
@@ -144,7 +158,7 @@ jobs:
   ##         - commit to either (development, next, master) branch
   stacks-core-tests:
     if: |
-      needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true' || (
+      needs.check-release.outputs.is_signer_release == 'true' || (
         github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
         github.event_name == 'pull_request' ||
         github.event_name == 'merge_group' ||
@@ -166,7 +180,7 @@ jobs:
 
   bitcoin-tests:
     if: |
-      needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true' || (
+      needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release == 'true' || (
         github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
         github.event_name == 'pull_request' ||
         github.event_name == 'merge_group' ||
@@ -189,7 +203,7 @@ jobs:
 
   p2p-tests:
     if: |
-      needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true' || (
+      needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release == 'true' || (
         github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' ||
         github.event_name == 'pull_request' ||
         github.event_name == 'merge_group' ||
@@ -214,7 +228,7 @@ jobs:
   ## Runs when:
   ##   - it is a release run
   atlas-tests:
-    if: needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true'
+    if: needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release == 'true'
     name: Atlas Tests
     needs:
       - rustfmt
@@ -223,7 +237,7 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/atlas-tests.yml
 
   epoch-tests:
-    if: needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true'
+    if: needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release == 'true'
     name: Epoch Tests
     needs:
       - rustfmt
@@ -232,7 +246,7 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/epoch-tests.yml
 
   slow-tests:
-    if: needs.check-release.outputs.is_release == 'true'
+    if: needs.check-release.outputs.is_node_release == 'true'
     name: Slow Tests
     needs:
       - rustfmt
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-source-binary.yml b/.github/workflows/create-source-binary.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 385b30af7d..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/create-source-binary.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-## Github workflow to create multiarch binaries from source
-
-name: Create Binaries
-
-on:
-  workflow_call:
-    inputs:
-      tag:
-        description: "Tag name of this release (x.y.z)"
-        required: true
-        type: string
-
-## change the display name to the tag being built
-run-name: ${{ inputs.tag }}
-
-concurrency:
-  group: create-binary-${{ github.head_ref || github.ref || github.run_id}}
-  ## Only cancel in progress if this is for a PR
-  cancel-in-progress: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}
-
-jobs:
-  ## Runs when the following is true:
-  ##  - tag is provided
-  artifact:
-    if: |
-      inputs.tag != ''
-    name: Build Binaries
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      ## Run a maximum of 10 builds concurrently, using the matrix defined in inputs.arch
-      max-parallel: 10
-      matrix:
-        arch:
-          - linux-musl
-          - linux-glibc
-          - macos
-          - windows
-        cpu:
-          - arm64
-          - armv7
-          - x86-64 ## defaults to x86-64-v3 variant - intel haswell (2013) and newer
-          # - x86-64-v2 ## intel nehalem (2008) and newer
-          # - x86-64-v3 ## intel haswell (2013) and newer
-          # - x86-64-v4 ## intel skylake (2017) and newer
-        exclude:
-          - arch: windows # excludes windows-arm64
-            cpu: arm64
-          - arch: windows # excludes windows-armv7
-            cpu: armv7
-          - arch: macos # excludes macos-armv7
-            cpu: armv7
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Build Binary (${{ matrix.arch }}_${{ matrix.cpu }})
-        id: build_binary
-        uses: stacks-network/actions/stacks-core/create-source-binary@main
-        with:
-          arch: ${{ matrix.arch }}
-          cpu: ${{ matrix.cpu }}
-          tag: ${{ inputs.tag }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/github-release.yml b/.github/workflows/github-release.yml
index 9d4e18c665..a1b5bf9834 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/github-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/github-release.yml
@@ -5,12 +5,28 @@ name: Github Release
 on:
   workflow_call:
     inputs:
-      tag:
-        description: "Release Tag"
+      node_tag:
+        description: "Node Release Tag"
         required: true
         type: string
-      docker_tag:
-        description: "Docker Release Tag"
+      node_docker_tag:
+        description: "Node Docker Release Tag"
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      signer_tag:
+        description: "Signer Release Tag"
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      signer_docker_tag:
+        description: "Signer Docker Release Tag"
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      is_node_release:
+        description: "True if it is a node release"
+        required: true
+        type: string
+      is_signer_release:
+        description: "True if it is a signer release"
         required: true
         type: string
     secrets:
@@ -22,81 +38,107 @@ concurrency:
   ## Always cancel duplicate jobs
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
-run-name: ${{ inputs.tag }}
+run-name: ${{ inputs.node_tag || inputs.signer_tag }}
 
 jobs:
   ## Build arch dependent binaries from source
   ##
   ## Runs when the following is true:
-  ##  - tag is provided
+  ##  - either node or signer tag is provided
   build-binaries:
     if: |
-      inputs.tag != ''
+      inputs.node_tag != '' ||
+      inputs.signer_tag != ''
     name: Build Binaries
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/create-source-binary.yml
-    with:
-      tag: ${{ inputs.tag }}
-    secrets: inherit
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      ## Run a maximum of 10 builds concurrently, using the matrix defined in inputs.arch
+      max-parallel: 10
+      matrix:
+        arch:
+          - linux-musl
+          - linux-glibc
+          - macos
+          - windows
+        cpu:
+          - arm64
+          - armv7
+          - x86-64 ## defaults to x86-64-v3 variant - intel haswell (2013) and newer
+          # - x86-64-v2 ## intel nehalem (2008) and newer
+          # - x86-64-v3 ## intel haswell (2013) and newer
+          # - x86-64-v4 ## intel skylake (2017) and newer
+        exclude:
+          - arch: windows # excludes windows-arm64
+            cpu: arm64
+          - arch: windows # excludes windows-armv7
+            cpu: armv7
+          - arch: macos # excludes macos-armv7
+            cpu: armv7
+    steps:
+      - name: Build Binary (${{ matrix.arch }}_${{ matrix.cpu }})
+        uses: stacks-network/actions/stacks-core/release/create-source-binary@main
+        with:
+          arch: ${{ matrix.arch }}
+          cpu: ${{ matrix.cpu }}
+          node_tag: ${{ inputs.node_tag }}
+          signer_tag: ${{ inputs.signer_tag }}
+          signer_docker_tag: ${{ inputs.signer_docker_tag }}
+          is_node_release: ${{ inputs.is_node_release }}
 
   ## Runs when the following is true:
-  ##  - tag is provided
-  ##  - workflow is building default branch (master)
+  ##  - either node or signer tag is provided
   create-release:
     if: |
-      inputs.tag != ''
+      inputs.node_tag != '' ||
+      inputs.signer_tag != ''
     name: Create Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs:
       - build-binaries
     steps:
-      ## Downloads the artifacts built in `create-source-binary.yml`
-      - name: Download Artifacts
-        id: download_artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@65a9edc5881444af0b9093a5e628f2fe47ea3b2e # v4.1.7
+      ## Creates releases
+      - name: Create Release
+        uses: stacks-network/actions/stacks-core/release/create-github-releases@main
         with:
-          pattern: ${{ inputs.tag }}-binary-build-*
-          path: release
-          merge-multiple: true
-
-      ## Generate a checksums file to be added to the release page
-      - name: Generate Checksums
-        id: generate_checksum
-        uses: stacks-network/actions/generate-checksum@main
-        with:
-          artifact_download_pattern: "${{ inputs.tag }}-binary-build-*"
-
-      ## Upload the release archives with the checksums file
-      - name: Upload Release
-        id: upload_release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@69320dbe05506a9a39fc8ae11030b214ec2d1f87 #v2.0.5
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
-        with:
-          name: Release ${{ inputs.tag || github.ref }}
-          tag_name: ${{ inputs.tag || github.ref }}
-          draft: false
-          prerelease: true
-          fail_on_unmatched_files: true
-          target_commitish: ${{ github.sha }}
-          generate_release_notes: true
-          files: |
-            release/*.zip
-            CHECKSUMS.txt
+          node_tag: ${{ inputs.node_tag }}
+          node_docker_tag: ${{ inputs.node_docker_tag }}
+          signer_tag: ${{ inputs.signer_tag }}
+          signer_docker_tag: ${{ inputs.signer_docker_tag }}
+          is_node_release: ${{ inputs.is_node_release }}
+          is_signer_release: ${{ inputs.is_signer_release }}
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
 
   ## Builds arch dependent Docker images from binaries
   ##
   ## Runs when the following is true:
-  ##  - tag is provided
-  ##  - workflow is building default branch (master)
+  ##  - either node or signer tag is provided
   docker-image:
     if: |
-      inputs.tag != ''
+      inputs.node_tag != '' ||
+      inputs.signer_tag != ''
     name: Docker Image (Binary)
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/image-build-binary.yml
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs:
       - build-binaries
       - create-release
-    with:
-      tag: ${{ inputs.tag }}
-      docker_tag: ${{ inputs.docker_tag }}
-    secrets: inherit
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      ## Build a maximum of 2 images concurrently based on matrix.dist
+      max-parallel: 2
+      matrix:
+        dist:
+          - alpine
+          - debian
+    steps:
+      - name: Create Docker Image
+        uses: stacks-network/actions/stacks-core/release/create-docker-images@main
+        with:
+          node_tag: ${{ inputs.node_tag }}
+          node_docker_tag: ${{ inputs.node_docker_tag }}
+          signer_tag: ${{ inputs.signer_tag }}
+          signer_docker_tag: ${{ inputs.signer_docker_tag }}
+          is_node_release: ${{ inputs.is_node_release }}
+          is_signer_release: ${{ inputs.is_signer_release }}
+          DOCKERHUB_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
+          DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD }}
+          dist: ${{ matrix.dist }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/image-build-binary.yml b/.github/workflows/image-build-binary.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 5966d7e68a..0000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/image-build-binary.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,145 +0,0 @@
-## Github workflow to build a multiarch docker image from pre-built binaries
-
-name: Docker Image (Binary)
-
-on:
-  workflow_call:
-    inputs:
-      tag:
-        required: true
-        type: string
-        description: "Version tag of release"
-      docker_tag:
-        required: true
-        type: string
-        description: "Version tag for docker images"
-
-## Define which docker arch to build for
-env:
-  docker_platforms: "linux/arm64, linux/arm/v7, linux/amd64, linux/amd64/v3"
-  docker-org: blockstack
-
-concurrency:
-  group: docker-image-binary-${{ github.head_ref || github.ref || github.run_id }}
-  ## Always cancel duplicate jobs
-  cancel-in-progress: true
-
-run-name: ${{ inputs.tag }}
-
-jobs:
-  ## Runs when the following is true:
-  ##  - tag is provided
-  ##  - workflow is building default branch (master)
-  image:
-    if: |
-      inputs.tag != ''
-    name: Build Image
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      ## Build a maximum of 2 images concurrently based on matrix.dist
-      max-parallel: 2
-      matrix:
-        dist:
-          - alpine
-          - debian
-    steps:
-      ## Setup Docker for the builds
-      - name: Docker setup
-        id: docker_setup
-        uses: stacks-network/actions/docker@main
-        with:
-          username: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
-          password: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD }}
-
-      ## if the repo owner is not `stacks-network`, default to a docker-org of the repo owner (i.e. github user id)
-      ## this allows forks to run the docker push workflows without having to hardcode a dockerhub org (but it does require docker hub user to match github username)
-      - name: Set Local env vars
-        id: set_env
-        if: |
-          github.repository_owner != 'stacks-network'
-        run: |
-          echo "docker-org=${{ github.repository_owner }}" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
-
-      - name: Check Signer Release
-        id: check_signer_release
-        run: |
-          case "${{ inputs.tag }}" in
-            signer-*)
-              echo "is-signer-release=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-              ;;
-            *)
-              echo "is-signer-release=false" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-              ;;
-          esac
-
-      ## Set docker metatdata
-      ## - depending on the matrix.dist, different tags will be enabled
-      ## ex. debian will have this tag: `type=ref,event=tag,enable=${{ matrix.dist == 'debian' }}`
-      - name: Docker Metadata ( ${{matrix.dist}} )
-        if: ${{ env.is-signer-release == 'true' }}
-        id: docker_metadata_signer
-        uses: docker/metadata-action@8e5442c4ef9f78752691e2d8f8d19755c6f78e81 #v5.5.1
-        with:
-          images: |
-            ${{env.docker-org}}/stacks-signer
-          tags: |
-            type=raw,value=latest,enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && (github.ref == format('refs/heads/{0}', github.event.repository.default_branch) ) && matrix.dist == 'debian' }}
-            type=raw,value=${{ inputs.docker_tag }}-${{ matrix.dist }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && matrix.dist == 'debian'}}
-            type=raw,value=${{ inputs.docker_tag }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && matrix.dist == 'debian' }}
-            type=ref,event=tag,enable=${{ matrix.dist == 'debian' }}
-            type=raw,value=latest-${{ matrix.dist }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && (github.ref == format('refs/heads/{0}', github.event.repository.default_branch) ) && matrix.dist == 'alpine' }}
-            type=raw,value=${{ inputs.docker_tag }}-${{ matrix.dist }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && matrix.dist == 'alpine' }}
-
-      - name: Docker Metadata ( ${{matrix.dist}} )
-        if: ${{ env.is-signer-release == 'false' }}
-        id: docker_metadata_node
-        uses: docker/metadata-action@8e5442c4ef9f78752691e2d8f8d19755c6f78e81 #v5.5.1
-        with:
-          ## tag images with current repo name `stacks-core` as well as legacy `stacks-blockchain`
-          images: |
-            ${{env.docker-org}}/${{ github.event.repository.name }}
-            ${{env.docker-org}}/stacks-blockchain
-          tags: |
-            type=raw,value=latest,enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && (github.ref == format('refs/heads/{0}', github.event.repository.default_branch) ) && matrix.dist == 'debian' }}
-            type=raw,value=${{ inputs.docker_tag }}-${{ matrix.dist }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && matrix.dist == 'debian'}}
-            type=raw,value=${{ inputs.docker_tag }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && matrix.dist == 'debian' }}
-            type=ref,event=tag,enable=${{ matrix.dist == 'debian' }}
-            type=raw,value=latest-${{ matrix.dist }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && (github.ref == format('refs/heads/{0}', github.event.repository.default_branch) ) && matrix.dist == 'alpine' }}
-            type=raw,value=${{ inputs.docker_tag }}-${{ matrix.dist }},enable=${{ inputs.docker_tag != '' && matrix.dist == 'alpine' }}
-
-      ## Build docker image for signer release
-      - name: Build and Push ( ${{matrix.dist}} )
-        if: ${{ env.is-signer-release == 'true' }}
-        id: docker_build_signer
-        uses: docker/build-push-action@2cdde995de11925a030ce8070c3d77a52ffcf1c0 # v5.3.0
-        with:
-          file: ./.github/actions/dockerfiles/Dockerfile.${{ matrix.dist }}-binary
-          platforms: ${{ env.docker_platforms }}
-          tags: ${{ steps.docker_metadata_signer.outputs.tags }}
-          labels: ${{ steps.docker_metadata_signer.outputs.labels }}
-          build-args: |
-            TAG=${{ inputs.tag }}
-            REPO=${{ github.repository_owner }}/${{ github.event.repository.name }}
-            STACKS_NODE_VERSION=${{ inputs.tag || env.GITHUB_SHA_SHORT }}
-            GIT_BRANCH=${{ env.GITHUB_REF_SHORT }}
-            GIT_COMMIT=${{ env.GITHUB_SHA_SHORT }}
-          push: ${{ env.DOCKER_PUSH }}
-
-      ## Build docker image for node release
-      - name: Build and Push ( ${{matrix.dist}} )
-        if: ${{ env.is-signer-release == 'false' }}
-        id: docker_build_node
-        uses: docker/build-push-action@2cdde995de11925a030ce8070c3d77a52ffcf1c0 # v5.3.0
-        with:
-          file: ./.github/actions/dockerfiles/Dockerfile.${{ matrix.dist }}-binary
-          platforms: ${{ env.docker_platforms }}
-          tags: ${{ steps.docker_metadata_node.outputs.tags }}
-          labels: ${{ steps.docker_metadata_node.outputs.labels }}
-          build-args: |
-            TAG=${{ inputs.tag }}
-            REPO=${{ github.repository_owner }}/${{ github.event.repository.name }}
-            STACKS_NODE_VERSION=${{ inputs.tag || env.GITHUB_SHA_SHORT }}
-            GIT_BRANCH=${{ env.GITHUB_REF_SHORT }}
-            GIT_COMMIT=${{ env.GITHUB_SHA_SHORT }}
-          push: ${{ env.DOCKER_PUSH }}