diff --git a/pxr/usd/usd/crateFile.cpp b/pxr/usd/usd/crateFile.cpp
index 55c6d71e1..5d0fcbcfa 100644
--- a/pxr/usd/usd/crateFile.cpp
+++ b/pxr/usd/usd/crateFile.cpp
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ TF_REGISTRY_FUNCTION(TfType) {
     TfType::Define<Usd_CrateFile::TimeSamples>();
 }
 
-#define DEFAULT_NEW_VERSION "0.10.0"
+// BLENDER: Keep USD files forward compatible for longer.
+#define DEFAULT_NEW_VERSION "0.9.0"
 TF_DEFINE_ENV_SETTING(
     USD_WRITE_NEW_USDC_FILES_AS_VERSION, DEFAULT_NEW_VERSION,
     "When writing new Usd Crate files, write them as this version.  "