diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 427c3f8a..aba4e73d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,9 +16,16 @@ The format is based on Keep a Changelog and this project adheres to
 - If there are breaking changes, put a short, actionable checklist here.
 
 
-## [0.15.5-alpha] - 2025-10-27
+## [0.16.0-alpha] - 2025-11-19
+### Added
+- Added feature-gated `bytes` integration for zero-copy conversion to `bytes::Bytes` (v1.11.0).
+  - New methods: `EntryHandle::as_bytes()` and `EntryHandle::into_bytes()`.
+  - Enable with `features = ["bytes"]` in your `Cargo.toml`.
+  - Perfect for network protocols and async I/O scenarios.
+
 ### Changed
-- Bumped Apache Arrow dependency to 57.0.0. (No other functional changes.)
+- Regresses Apache Arrow dependency to 56.2.0 to be compatible with current [datafusion](https://crates.io/crates/datafusion) crate release.
+- Updated `simd-r-drive-entry-handle` README with feature documentation and usage examples.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 15b12669..93db0760 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ checksum = "7c02d123df017efcdfbd739ef81735b36c5ba83ec3c59c80a9d7ecc718f92e50"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "4df8bb5b0bd64c0b9bc61317fcc480bad0f00e56d3bc32c69a4c8dada4786bae"
+checksum = "6e833808ff2d94ed40d9379848a950d995043c7fb3e81a30b383f4c6033821cc"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-arith",
  "arrow-array",
@@ -137,23 +137,23 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-arith"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "a1a640186d3bd30a24cb42264c2dafb30e236a6f50d510e56d40b708c9582491"
+checksum = "ad08897b81588f60ba983e3ca39bda2b179bdd84dced378e7df81a5313802ef8"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-array",
  "arrow-buffer",
  "arrow-data",
  "arrow-schema",
  "chrono",
- "num-traits",
+ "num",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-array"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "219fe420e6800979744c8393b687afb0252b3f8a89b91027d27887b72aa36d31"
+checksum = "8548ca7c070d8db9ce7aa43f37393e4bfcf3f2d3681df278490772fd1673d08d"
 dependencies = [
  "ahash",
  "arrow-buffer",
@@ -162,28 +162,25 @@ dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "half",
  "hashbrown 0.16.0",
- "num-complex",
- "num-integer",
- "num-traits",
+ "num",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-buffer"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "76885a2697a7edf6b59577f568b456afc94ce0e2edc15b784ce3685b6c3c5c27"
+checksum = "e003216336f70446457e280807a73899dd822feaf02087d31febca1363e2fccc"
 dependencies = [
  "bytes",
  "half",
- "num-bigint",
- "num-traits",
+ "num",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-cast"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "9c9ebb4c987e6b3b236fb4a14b20b34835abfdd80acead3ccf1f9bf399e1f168"
+checksum = "919418a0681298d3a77d1a315f625916cb5678ad0d74b9c60108eb15fd083023"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-array",
  "arrow-buffer",
@@ -195,28 +192,27 @@ dependencies = [
  "chrono",
  "half",
  "lexical-core",
- "num-traits",
+ "num",
  "ryu",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-data"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "727681b95de313b600eddc2a37e736dcb21980a40f640314dcf360e2f36bc89b"
+checksum = "a5c64fff1d142f833d78897a772f2e5b55b36cb3e6320376f0961ab0db7bd6d0"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-buffer",
  "arrow-schema",
  "half",
- "num-integer",
- "num-traits",
+ "num",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-ord"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "141c05298b21d03e88062317a1f1a73f5ba7b6eb041b350015b1cd6aabc0519b"
+checksum = "3c8f82583eb4f8d84d4ee55fd1cb306720cddead7596edce95b50ee418edf66f"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-array",
  "arrow-buffer",
@@ -227,9 +223,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-row"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "c5f3c06a6abad6164508ed283c7a02151515cef3de4b4ff2cebbcaeb85533db2"
+checksum = "9d07ba24522229d9085031df6b94605e0f4b26e099fb7cdeec37abd941a73753"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-array",
  "arrow-buffer",
@@ -240,29 +236,29 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-schema"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "9cfa7a03d1eee2a4d061476e1840ad5c9867a544ca6c4c59256496af5d0a8be5"
+checksum = "b3aa9e59c611ebc291c28582077ef25c97f1975383f1479b12f3b9ffee2ffabe"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-select"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "bafa595babaad59f2455f4957d0f26448fb472722c186739f4fac0823a1bdb47"
+checksum = "8c41dbbd1e97bfcaee4fcb30e29105fb2c75e4d82ae4de70b792a5d3f66b2e7a"
 dependencies = [
  "ahash",
  "arrow-array",
  "arrow-buffer",
  "arrow-data",
  "arrow-schema",
- "num-traits",
+ "num",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "arrow-string"
-version = "57.0.0"
+version = "56.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "32f46457dbbb99f2650ff3ac23e46a929e0ab81db809b02aa5511c258348bef2"
+checksum = "53f5183c150fbc619eede22b861ea7c0eebed8eaac0333eaa7f6da5205fd504d"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-array",
  "arrow-buffer",
@@ -270,7 +266,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "arrow-schema",
  "arrow-select",
  "memchr",
- "num-traits",
+ "num",
  "regex",
  "regex-syntax",
 ]
@@ -447,9 +443,9 @@ checksum = "1fd0f2584146f6f2ef48085050886acf353beff7305ebd1ae69500e27c67f64b"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bytes"
-version = "1.10.1"
+version = "1.11.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "d71b6127be86fdcfddb610f7182ac57211d4b18a3e9c82eb2d17662f2227ad6a"
+checksum = "b35204fbdc0b3f4446b89fc1ac2cf84a8a68971995d0bf2e925ec7cd960f9cb3"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cast"
@@ -1343,6 +1339,20 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.52.0",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "num"
+version = "0.4.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "35bd024e8b2ff75562e5f34e7f4905839deb4b22955ef5e73d2fea1b9813cb23"
+dependencies = [
+ "num-bigint",
+ "num-complex",
+ "num-integer",
+ "num-iter",
+ "num-rational",
+ "num-traits",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "num-bigint"
 version = "0.4.6"
@@ -1371,6 +1381,28 @@ dependencies = [
  "num-traits",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "num-iter"
+version = "0.1.45"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1429034a0490724d0075ebb2bc9e875d6503c3cf69e235a8941aa757d83ef5bf"
+dependencies = [
+ "autocfg",
+ "num-integer",
+ "num-traits",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "num-rational"
+version = "0.4.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f83d14da390562dca69fc84082e73e548e1ad308d24accdedd2720017cb37824"
+dependencies = [
+ "num-bigint",
+ "num-integer",
+ "num-traits",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "num-traits"
 version = "0.2.19"
@@ -1793,7 +1825,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "bincode",
@@ -1821,16 +1853,17 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-entry-handle"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow",
+ "bytes",
  "crc32fast",
  "memmap2",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-extensions"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "bincode",
  "doc-comment",
@@ -1842,7 +1875,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-muxio-service-definition"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "bitcode",
  "muxio-rpc-service",
@@ -1850,7 +1883,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-ws-client"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "muxio-rpc-service",
@@ -1864,7 +1897,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-ws-server"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "clap",
  "indoc",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 4ce4c54e..5886d81e 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [workspace.package]
 authors = ["Jeremy Harris <jeremy.harris@zenosmosis.com>"]
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 edition = "2024"
 repository = "https://github.com/jzombie/rust-simd-r-drive"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ parallel = ["rayon"]
 # Proxy: when users enable simd-r-drive/arrow, it enables the dep's arrow.
 arrow = ["simd-r-drive-entry-handle/arrow"]
 
+# Proxy: when users enable simd-r-drive/bytes, it enables the dep's bytes.
+bytes = ["simd-r-drive-entry-handle/bytes"]
+
 [[bench]]
 name = "storage_benchmark"
 harness = false
@@ -79,18 +82,19 @@ resolver = "2"
 
 [workspace.dependencies]
 # Intra-workspace crates
-simd-r-drive = { path = ".", version = "0.15.5-alpha" }
-simd-r-drive-entry-handle = { path = "./simd-r-drive-entry-handle", version = "0.15.5-alpha" }
-simd-r-drive-ws-client = { path = "./experiments/simd-r-drive-ws-client", version = "0.15.5-alpha" }
-simd-r-drive-muxio-service-definition = { path = "./experiments/simd-r-drive-muxio-service-definition", version = "0.15.5-alpha" }
+simd-r-drive = { path = ".", version = "0.16.0-alpha" }
+simd-r-drive-entry-handle = { path = "./simd-r-drive-entry-handle", version = "0.16.0-alpha" }
+simd-r-drive-ws-client = { path = "./experiments/simd-r-drive-ws-client", version = "0.16.0-alpha" }
+simd-r-drive-muxio-service-definition = { path = "./experiments/simd-r-drive-muxio-service-definition", version = "0.16.0-alpha" }
 muxio-tokio-rpc-client = "0.9.0-alpha"
 muxio-tokio-rpc-server = "0.9.0-alpha"
 muxio-rpc-service = "0.9.0-alpha"
 muxio-rpc-service-caller = "0.9.0-alpha"
 
 # Third-party crates (note, not all dependencies are used in the base drive)
-arrow = { version = "57.0.0", default-features = false }
+arrow = { version = "56.2.0", default-features = false }
 async-trait = "0.1.88"
+bytes = "1.11.0"
 bincode = "1.3.3" # TODO: Replace with `bitcode`
 bitcode = "0.6.6"
 clap = "4.5.40"
diff --git a/experiments/bindings/python-ws-client/Cargo.lock b/experiments/bindings/python-ws-client/Cargo.lock
index a9a46655..da386261 100644
--- a/experiments/bindings/python-ws-client/Cargo.lock
+++ b/experiments/bindings/python-ws-client/Cargo.lock
@@ -1048,7 +1048,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "clap",
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-entry-handle"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "crc32fast",
  "memmap2",
@@ -1072,7 +1072,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-muxio-service-definition"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "bitcode",
  "muxio-rpc-service",
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "simd-r-drive-ws-client"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "muxio-rpc-service",
diff --git a/experiments/bindings/python_(old_client)/pyproject.toml b/experiments/bindings/python_(old_client)/pyproject.toml
index 4bc77e3b..8912bf92 100644
--- a/experiments/bindings/python_(old_client)/pyproject.toml
+++ b/experiments/bindings/python_(old_client)/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "simd-r-drive-py"
-version = "0.15.5-alpha"
+version = "0.16.0-alpha"
 description = "SIMD-optimized append-only schema-less storage engine. Key-based binary storage in a single-file storage container."
 repository = "https://github.com/jzombie/rust-simd-r-drive"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/Cargo.toml b/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/Cargo.toml
index 1ed41726..fb07b3b2 100644
--- a/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/Cargo.toml
+++ b/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ publish.workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
 arrow = { workspace = true, optional = true }
+bytes = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 crc32fast = { workspace = true }
 memmap2 = { workspace = true }
 
 [features]
 expose-internal-api = []
 arrow = ["dep:arrow"]
+bytes = ["dep:bytes"]
diff --git a/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/README.md b/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/README.md
index 6e9c49fc..b4cd59fd 100644
--- a/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/README.md
+++ b/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/README.md
@@ -2,10 +2,37 @@
 
 Standalone, storage agnostic*, `mmap`-friendly definitions of [EntryHandle](./src/entry_handle.rs) and [EntryMetadata](./src/entry_metadata.rs) compatible with [SIMD R Drive](https://crates.io/crates/simd-r-drive).
 
-Use these types from other storage backends (e.g., in-memory stores, object storage, custom files) that need to read/write the same binary layout—without depending on the full `SIMD R Drive` crate or even a local filesystem. They support zero-copy via `mmap` when available, but don’t require it.
+Use these types from other storage backends (e.g., in-memory stores, object storage, custom files) that need to read/write the same binary layout—without depending on the full `SIMD R Drive` crate or even a local filesystem. They support zero-copy via `mmap` when available, but don't require it.
 
 * Note: This crate has not been tested in WASM and is likely not yet compatible.
 
+## Features
+
+### `arrow`
+Enables zero-copy conversion to Apache Arrow `Buffer` types via `as_arrow_buffer()` and `into_arrow_buffer()`.
+
+### `bytes`
+Enables zero-copy conversion to `bytes::Bytes` via `as_bytes()` and `into_bytes()`. Perfect for network protocols and async I/O.
+
+### Usage Example
+
+```toml
+[dependencies]
+simd-r-drive-entry-handle = { version = "0.15", features = ["bytes"] }
+```
+
+```rust
+use simd_r_drive_entry_handle::EntryHandle;
+
+// Create an in-memory entry
+let data = b"Hello, zero-copy world!";
+let handle = EntryHandle::from_owned_bytes_anon(data, 12345)?;
+
+// Convert to bytes::Bytes without copying
+let bytes = handle.as_bytes();
+assert_eq!(&bytes[..], data);
+```
+
 ## License
 
 Licensed under the [Apache-2.0 License](./LICENSE).
diff --git a/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/src/entry_handle.rs b/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/src/entry_handle.rs
index 1fdec85c..10d2f5ca 100644
--- a/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/src/entry_handle.rs
+++ b/simd-r-drive-entry-handle/src/entry_handle.rs
@@ -449,3 +449,110 @@ impl AsRef<[u8]> for EntryHandle {
         self.as_slice()
     }
 }
+
+/// Zero-copy Bytes views over this entry.
+///
+/// A wrapper type that owns an EntryHandle and provides AsRef<[u8]> for bytes::Bytes::from_owner
+#[cfg(feature = "bytes")]
+struct BytesOwner(Arc<EntryHandle>);
+
+#[cfg(feature = "bytes")]
+impl AsRef<[u8]> for BytesOwner {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &[u8] {
+        self.0.as_slice()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Safety: the pointer comes from an `Arc<Mmap>` and stays valid for the
+/// life of the returned `Bytes` via the captured owner. The owner is an
+/// `Arc<EntryHandle>`, which keeps the underlying `Arc<Mmap>` alive.
+#[cfg(feature = "bytes")]
+impl EntryHandle {
+    /// View the payload as a `bytes::Bytes` without copying.
+    ///
+    /// Feature: `bytes`
+    ///
+    /// Returns a zero-copy `bytes::Bytes` whose contents point at
+    /// the same bytes as `self.as_slice()`. The returned `Bytes` captures
+    /// an `Arc<EntryHandle>` internally, which keeps the `Arc<Mmap>` alive
+    /// for the lifetime of the `Bytes`.
+    ///
+    /// No allocation or memcpy of the payload occurs. The only work here is
+    /// constructing the `Bytes` and cloning the `Arc` owner.
+    ///
+    /// Safety
+    /// ------
+    /// Uses `Bytes::from_owner` with a wrapper type that holds an `Arc<EntryHandle>`.
+    /// The memory remains valid because:
+    /// - The slice is backed by `Arc<Mmap>` which outlives the returned `Bytes`
+    /// - The handle is cloned and kept alive internally via the BytesOwner
+    /// - The memory is immutable for the lifetime of the `Bytes`
+    ///
+    /// Panics
+    /// ------
+    /// This method should never panic as Rust guarantees `&[u8]::as_ptr()`
+    /// is valid for the lifetime of the slice.
+    pub fn as_bytes(&self) -> bytes::Bytes {
+        use bytes::Bytes;
+        use std::sync::Arc;
+
+        #[cfg(any(test, debug_assertions))]
+        {
+            use crate::{
+                constants::PAYLOAD_ALIGNMENT, debug_assert_aligned, debug_assert_aligned_offset,
+            };
+            let slice = self.as_slice();
+            // Assert actual pointer alignment.
+            debug_assert_aligned(slice.as_ptr(), PAYLOAD_ALIGNMENT as usize);
+            // Assert derived file offset alignment.
+            debug_assert_aligned_offset(self.range.start as u64);
+        }
+
+        // Create an owner that implements AsRef<[u8]> and keeps the mmap alive
+        let owner = BytesOwner(Arc::new(self.clone()));
+
+        // from_owner will create a zero-copy Bytes backed by our owner
+        Bytes::from_owner(owner)
+    }
+
+    /// Convert this handle into a `bytes::Bytes` without copying.
+    ///
+    /// Feature: `bytes`
+    ///
+    /// Like [`as_bytes`](Self::as_bytes) but consumes `self`
+    /// to avoid one extra `Arc` clone. This is otherwise identical to the
+    /// borrowing variant and still performs zero copies of the payload.
+    ///
+    /// Safety
+    /// ------
+    /// Same assumptions as [`as_bytes`](Self::as_bytes):
+    /// - Pointer is valid for `len` bytes and remains immutable while the
+    ///   `Bytes` lives.
+    /// - Alignment is suitable for `u8`.
+    ///
+    /// Panics
+    /// ------
+    /// See [`as_bytes`](Self::as_bytes). This method should never panic.
+    pub fn into_bytes(self) -> bytes::Bytes {
+        use bytes::Bytes;
+        use std::sync::Arc;
+
+        #[cfg(any(test, debug_assertions))]
+        {
+            use crate::{
+                constants::PAYLOAD_ALIGNMENT, debug_assert_aligned, debug_assert_aligned_offset,
+            };
+            let slice = self.as_slice();
+            // Assert actual pointer alignment.
+            debug_assert_aligned(slice.as_ptr(), PAYLOAD_ALIGNMENT as usize);
+            // Assert derived file offset alignment.
+            debug_assert_aligned_offset(self.range.start as u64);
+        }
+
+        // Move self into an Arc via the owner
+        let owner = BytesOwner(Arc::new(self));
+
+        // from_owner will create a zero-copy Bytes backed by our owner
+        Bytes::from_owner(owner)
+    }
+}