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📊 zk-SNARKs vs zk-STARKs: The Privacy Showdown

Compare the two dominant zero-knowledge proof systems

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How ZK Proofs Work

🔍 Types of ZK Proofs

Three main types dominate production blockchains: SNARKs (smallest), STARKs (most transparent), and Bulletproofs (balanced). Each has trade-offs.

🎮 Interactive: Compare ZK Proof Systems

Select a ZK proof type to see detailed specifications and trade-offs

⚡

ZK-SNARKs

Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge

Small proofs, fast verification, requires trusted setup

Proof Size
~200 bytes
Verify Time
~1-10ms
Generate Time
~seconds
Trusted Setup
Required
Quantum Safe
No
✅ Advantages
  • • Smallest proof size (200 bytes)
  • • Fastest verification (milliseconds)
  • • Battle-tested (Zcash since 2016)
  • • Widely adopted in production
⚠️ Disadvantages
  • • Requires trusted setup ceremony
  • • Vulnerable to quantum computers
  • • Complex cryptography
  • • Hard to audit
🚀 Used By
▸Zcash (private transactions)
▸Tornado Cash (mixing)
▸Mina Protocol (22KB blockchain)
▸Filecoin (storage proofs)

⚖️ Quick Comparison Matrix

FeatureSNARKsSTARKsBulletproofs
Proof Size★★★ Smallest★ Largest★★ Medium
Verify Speed★★★ Fastest★★ Fast★ Slower
Trusted SetupRequiredNoneNone
Quantum ResistanceNoYesNo
Production ReadyYes (2016+)Yes (2021+)Yes (2017+)

🎯 Which One to Choose?

⚡
Choose SNARKs if:
Need smallest proofs, fastest verification. Okay with trusted setup. Use case: privacy coins (Zcash), blockchain compression (Mina).
🛡️
Choose STARKs if:
Need transparency (no trusted setup), quantum resistance. Scaling is priority. Use case: Layer 2 rollups (StarkNet), large computations.
🎯
Choose Bulletproofs if:
Need range proofs (prove value in range without revealing). Privacy focus. Use case: confidential transactions (Monero), payment amounts.