Decentralization, ASIC, Avalon, Canaan

While industrial players have long dominated Bitcoin mining, questions around true network decentralization persist. Canaan, the company that manufactured the first functioning ASIC Bitcoin miner, aims to drive a shift.

Their latest innovation, the Avalon Q home miner, brings professional-grade Bitcoin mining to everyday users. The device combines a 90 TH/s hashrate with 18.6 J/TH energy efficiency in an “ultra-quiet, sleek” unit that seamlessly integrates into living spaces.

In this interview, Canaan’s external affairs manager, Nancy Cheng, delves into the resurgence of home mining and Canaan’s mission to uphold the core values of Bitcoin (BTC) — decentralization and financial sovereignty via their Avalon Home Mining Series.

Cointelegraph: What inspired you to bring mining back to individuals’ homes?

Nancy Cheng: Canaan’s commitment to decentralization goes back to 2013, when our founder, NG Zhang, introduced the world’s first ASIC Bitcoin miner — the Avalon1 — and open-sourced its chip design.

This bold move inspired and empowered individuals around the globe to mine Bitcoin independently, distributing hash power and strengthening the network. That spirit of accessibility inspired other major players to follow suit.

Today, our home mining line — particularly the Avalon Q — carries that same mission forward. We’re not just manufacturing machines; we’re building tools that expand access and help individuals participate meaningfully in the Bitcoin ecosystem.

In a landscape long dominated by industrial players, we believe mining belongs in the hands of everyone who’s a part of the Bitcoin ecosystem. This is about more than hashrate. It’s about upholding Bitcoin's core values: decentralization, financial sovereignty and long-term sustainability.

CT: What macro-level forces are making home mining viable again for everyday enthusiasts?

NC: We’re seeing a perfect storm of trends making home mining more viable and promising than ever. On the energy side, falling renewable costs, grid buyback programs and time-of-use pricing let home miners optimize their energy use and offset costs. This is no longer just mining — it’s a comprehensive homegrown energy strategy.

Hardware innovation is accelerating, too. Canaan’s latest machines, like the Avalon Q, Mini 3 and Nano 3S, are plug-and-play, affordable and efficient. Features like heat recapture transform miners into dual-purpose tech that earns sats while heating your home.

On a cultural level, there’s a renewed hunger for decentralization, DIY energy use and financial sovereignty. With Bitcoin back in the spotlight, more people are getting curious and connected. Communities of home miners are growing fast, swapping knowledge, setups and support.

The economics, the technology and the culture are perfectly aligned to make home mining bigger than ever:

  • Declining renewable energy costs: Solar and wind power have seen significant cost reductions, allowing home miners to offset electricity expenses.

  • Grid buyback programs: Many regions now offer favorable net metering, enabling miners to sell excess self-generated power.

  • Time-of-use pricing: Smart miners can arbitrage by mining during off-peak hours when electricity costs are lowest.

CT: How do evolving regulations and utility-grid policies affect the pace of home-mining adoption worldwide?

NC: The interplay between regulations and grid policies is creating distinct regional patterns in home mining adoption:

In the US, states like Texas are pro-mining with low rates, while others like New York impose restrictions. Classification as residential vs. commercial can drastically alter rate structures.

Canada offers hydro-powered advantages in provinces like Quebec, though crypto-specific tariffs and permit requirements vary.

Across Europe, high energy costs and European Union carbon policies push miners toward efficiency and renewables. Some nations incentivize miners who can act as “interruptible loads.”

In Japan and South Korea, stable regulations and strong interest in crypto support early adoption, though electricity tiers can limit growth.

Globally, real-time pricing and grid flexibility incentives are expanding.

In short, regions with regulatory clarity, affordable electricity and progressive grid policies are becoming home mining hotspots. Anyone interested in mining should stay informed and aware of evolving local policies that could shape their opportunities.

CT: Canaan is known for launching the first ASIC Bitcoin miner. Which lessons from that pioneering phase directly shaped the design philosophy behind Avalon Q?

NC: Being the first to launch an ASIC Bitcoin miner taught us a powerful lesson: innovation isn’t a one-time event — it’s a mindset. We’ve learned that performance is just the starting point. Real breakthroughs happen when you combine valuable technology with user-friendly adaptability.

Most importantly, we’ve never stopped listening to our users. Feedback from our community over the years has directly shaped every iteration — from the Avalon A series to the Q. Things like app control, heat management and plug-and-play design and setup weren’t afterthoughts — they were responses engineered by our team for real people trying to mine smarter, not harder.

CT: You describe Avalon Q as a “plug-and-play” appliance. What engineering choices help it fit naturally into a living room rather than a server rack?

NC: We designed the Avalon Q to feel less like managing a server and more like owning a smart home device. It’s the first professional-grade miner built to run on a standard 110V outlet — no special wiring or setup required. Just plug and play.

Noise was a top priority, hence the “Q” for quiet. Traditional miners can hit 75dB (as loud as a vacuum cleaner), while the Avalon Q runs at just 45dB, about the same as a household fridge. That makes it ideal for living rooms, home offices or shared spaces where silence matters.

The Avalon Family App offers a simple, remote-access interface with smart power modes so users can toggle between efficiency and performance on demand. Every element, from its 110V power supply to its acoustic design, was engineered for seamless integration into daily modern life.

CT: Performance-wise, how does Avalon Q stack up against top industrial rigs on key metrics?

NC: While the Avalon Q isn’t built to compete with top-tier industrial rigs like the A15Pro on raw hashrate, its positioning as a home mining solution provides different value metrics. With 90 TH/s and strong energy efficiency, it delivers solid performance for its class. But its advantages shine in practical scenarios where traditional profitability models fall short.

Self-generated power, like solar, can dramatically cut energy costs. Heat recapture offsets home heating bills, especially in colder climates. Some regions also offer more favorable regulatory treatment for residential setups.

Most importantly, it appeals to those mining for long-term Bitcoin accumulation, network decentralization or personal sovereignty, not just immediate profit. The Avalon Q isn’t chasing hashrate wars; it’s redefining the mining ecosystem. It’s for those who believe in Bitcoin's technology and its benefits, and want to make it a standard in their home.

CT: Are you planning any integrations with smart-home ecosystems? How would such integration work?

NC: Absolutely, smart home integration is embedded into our vision. Our Avalon Family App makes it super simple for users to adjust performance modes, track temperature and uptime.

But here’s what’s truly remarkable about our home series: while most smart devices usually just make life convenient, Canaan miners actually make your home work for you — earning Bitcoin, powering decentralization and slashing heating bills. That’s next-gen smart.

Still, reshaping the future of Bitcoin and energy takes more than hardware — it takes an active and clever society. That’s why we launched the #CanaanHeatFlipChallenge, a viral trend to spark a mentality shift in recycling energy and what it means to futureproof our homes and habits.

We’ve already seen people using our miners to raise dough and even warm chicken coops! We love seeing the community’s response to the movement and are excited to watch it grow as our products evolve.

CT: Looking toward the 2030s, which structural shifts do you anticipate will shape the miners’ business model?

NC: Looking ahead, miners will need to evolve beyond the traditional hash-per-dollar model. As block rewards decline and difficulty rises, mining will face a structural shift.

Transaction fees will take center stage, replacing block subsidies as the primary revenue stream. This shift means greater volatility, tighter margins and more emphasis on efficient, responsive infrastructure.

Miners will also become deeply integrated with the energy sector, tapping stranded resources like flare gas, using curtailed renewables or doubling as heat recovery and grid balancing systems.

We anticipate hybrid mining facilities, acting as Bitcoin mines and AI compute hubs or edge data centers, sharing cooling and power infrastructure. In short, the miner of tomorrow is securing the network while optimizing energy, building multipurpose infrastructure and turning waste into value.

CT: What responsibility do hardware makers like Canaan have to ensure that hash power remains widely distributed rather than concentrated in mega-facilities?

NC: The development of our home mining series is a testament to how much we truly embrace the responsibility to safeguard Bitcoin’s decentralization. When founder NG Zhang introduced the first ASIC miner and open-sourced its chip design, he set a precedent for distributed mining.

We carry that legacy forward by delivering professional-grade tools for the broader market. Our Avalon Home series is engineered to be energy-efficient, quiet and compatible with standard home power, making mining accessible at the household level.

Decentralization isn’t just an ideal — it’s how Bitcoin stays strong. Our connection and responsibility to our customers lies in the fact that our products are not only about hashrate, but in our efforts made to build a resilient, resourceful financial future for everyone involved.

Learn more about Canaan and the Avalon Q

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