diff --git a/contrib/devtools/chainparams/README.md b/contrib/devtools/chainparams/README.md
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/devtools/chainparams/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Chainparams Constants
+
+Utilities to generate chainparams constants that are compiled into the client
+(see [src/chainparamsconstants.h](/src/chainparamsconstants.h).
+
+The chainparams constants are fetched from bitcoind, dumped to intermediate
+files, and then compiled into [src/chainparamsconstants.h](/src/chainparamsconstants.h).
+If you're running bitcoind locally, the following instructions will work
+out-of-the-box:
+
+## Mainnet
+```
+bitcoind
+make_chainparams > chainparams_main.txt
+```
+
+## Testnet
+```
+bitcoind --testnet
+make_chainparams --testnet -a 127.0.0.1:18332 > chainparams_test.txt
+```
+
+## Build C++ Header File
+```
+generate_chainparams_constants.py . > ../../../src/chainparamsconstants.h
+```
+
+## Testing
+
+Updating these constants should be reviewed carefully, with a
+reindex-chainstate, checkpoints=0, and assumevalid=0 to catch any defect that
+causes rejection of blocks in the past history.
diff --git a/doc/release-process.md b/doc/release-process.md
--- a/doc/release-process.md
+++ b/doc/release-process.md
@@ -21,13 +21,7 @@
     - Update [bips.md](/doc/bips.md) to account for changes since the last release.
     - (major releases) Update [`BLOCK_CHAIN_SIZE`](/src/qt/intro.cpp) to the current size plus
       some overhead.
-    - Update `src/chainparams.cpp` defaultAssumeValid and nMinimumChainWork with information from
-      the getblockhash rpc.
-        - The selected value must not be orphaned so it may be useful to set the value two blocks back 
-          from the tip.
-        - Testnet should be set some tens of thousands back from the tip due to reorgs there.
-        - This update should be reviewed with a reindex-chainstate with assumevalid=0 to catch any defect
-          that causes rejection of blocks in the past history.
+    - Update `src/chainparamsconstants.h` per [contrib/devtools/chainparams/README.md](contrib/devtools/chainparams/README.md)
     - Regenerate manpages (run `contrib/devtools/gen-manpages.sh`, or for out-of-tree builds run
       `BUILDDIR=$PWD/build contrib/devtools/gen-manpages.sh`).
     - Update seeds as per [contrib/seeds/README.md](/contrib/seeds/README.md).