diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust.yml b/.github/workflows/rust.yml
index 191a249..db6de17 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rust.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust.yml
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ jobs:
         run: cargo test --verbose --all-features
 
   msrv:
-    name: Verify MSRV (1.85)
+    name: Verify MSRV (1.99)
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: Install Rust Toolchain (1.85)
-        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@1.85.0
+      - name: Install Rust Toolchain (1.99)
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@1.99.0
 
       - name: Check
         run: cargo check --all-features
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 98850ad..84166a7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,13 @@ All notable changes to this project are documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [1.2.0] - 2026-10-08
+
+### Changed
+
+- Raised `rust-version` from 1.85 to 1.99. The CI MSRV job pins 1.99.0 and the README MSRV line reads 1.99. A minor release carries this change: a raised MSRV is possibly breaking per the Cargo book rules.
+- Fixed the clippy 0.1.99 `assert_is_empty` findings in the `VarBytes` tests. No public API changes.
+
 ## [1.1.0] - 2026-07-29
 
 ### Added
@@ -114,6 +121,7 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.htm
 - Renamed the crate from `bs-multiutil` to `multi-util`.
 - Initial published release on crates.io as `multi-util`.
 
+[1.2.0]: https://github.com/cryptidtech/multi-util/compare/v1.1.0...v1.2.0
 [1.1.0]: https://github.com/cryptidtech/multi-util/compare/v1.0.5...v1.1.0
 [1.0.5]: https://github.com/cryptidtech/multi-util/compare/v1.0.4...v1.0.5
 [1.0.4]: https://github.com/cryptidtech/multi-util/compare/v1.0.3...v1.0.4
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index b87ff30..63c751e 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 [package]
 name = "multi-util"
-version = "1.1.0"
+version = "1.2.0"
 edition = "2024"
-rust-version = "1.85"
+rust-version = "1.99"
 authors = ["Dave Huseby <dwh@linuxprogrammer.org>"]
 description = "Multiformat utility functions and types"
 repository = "https://github.com/cryptidtech/multi-util.git"
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ std = [
 ]
 
 [dependencies]
-multi-base = { version = "1.0", default-features = false }
-multi-codec = { version = "1.2", default-features = false }
-multi-trait = { version = "1.0", default-features = false }
+multi-base = { version = "1.1", default-features = false }
+multi-codec = { version = "1.6", default-features = false }
+multi-trait = { version = "1.1", default-features = false }
 serde = { version = "1.0", default-features = false, features = ["alloc", "derive"], optional = true }
 thiserror = { version = "2.0", default-features = false }
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2a1e8b4..015abdb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ To use serde under `no_std`, enable only the `serde` feature:
 multi-util = { version = "1.1", default-features = false, features = ["serde"] }
 ```
 
-MSRV: Rust 1.85 (Edition 2024).
+MSRV: Rust 1.99 (Edition 2024).
 
 ## Feature Flags
 
diff --git a/src/varbytes.rs b/src/varbytes.rs
index 0ed8027..8cba927 100644
--- a/src/varbytes.rs
+++ b/src/varbytes.rs
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let (decoded, rest) = Small::try_decode_from(&encoded).expect("under cap accepts");
         assert_eq!(decoded.to_inner(), data);
-        assert!(rest.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(rest.len(), 0);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let (decoded, rest) = Small::try_decode_from(&encoded).expect("exact cap accepts");
         assert_eq!(decoded.to_inner(), data);
-        assert!(rest.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(rest.len(), 0);
     }
 
     // ============================================================================
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let (varbytes, remaining) = result.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(varbytes.to_inner(), Vec::<u8>::new());
-        assert!(remaining.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(remaining.len(), 0);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ mod test {
 
         let (varbytes, remaining) = result.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(varbytes.to_inner(), data);
-        assert!(remaining.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(remaining.len(), 0);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ mod test {
         let inner = varbytes.to_inner();
         assert_eq!(inner.len(), 1024 * 1024);
         assert_eq!(inner[0], 0x42);
-        assert!(remaining.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(remaining.len(), 0);
     }
 
     #[test]