diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7a1b381..6ad8be9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -21,22 +21,9 @@ install-ipfs:
 	tar -xvzf go-ipfs_v0.10.0_linux-amd64.tar.gz
 	cd go-ipfs && bash install.sh
 
-install-avax:
-	wget https://github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/releases/download/v1.7.3/avalanchego-linux-amd64-v1.7.3.tar.gz
-	tar -xzvf avalanchego-linux-amd64-v1.7.3.tar.gz
-
 run-ipfs:
 	ipfs daemon
 
-run-avax:
-	./avalanchego-v1.7.3/avalanchego
-
-run-avax-test:
-	./avalanchego-v1.7.3/avalanchego --network-id fuji
-
-sync-avax:
-	./manage.sh sync-avax
-
 sync-remotes:
 	./manage.sh sync-remotes
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ebb0eb5..091dd77 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,15 +4,12 @@ Meme site dedicated to the best project on the Etherium network ;)
 
 https://tubbycats.xyz/about
 
-Memes are backed by Interplanetary Filesystem, server federation / content sharing, and optionally Avalanche network via a smart contract with some useful features (if you're into that). It's a decentralized application (dApp); it's preferred you run it locally and bootstrap the services on your own machine.
-
 ## Setup
 
 Tools you will need:
 * https://ipfs.io/#install
 * python3 (linux os will have this)
 * python3-venv
-* https://github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/ (optional)
 
 ### Development
 
@@ -28,15 +25,9 @@ cp env-example .env && vim .env
 # install ipfs
 sudo make install-ipfs
 
-# optional: install avalanchego
-make install-avax
-
 # run ipfs
 make run-ipfs
 
-# optional: run avalanchego
-make run-avax
-
 # initialize sqlite database w/ schema via alembic
 make init