SNARKs and STARKs are cryptographic proof systems that allow for efficient verification of computations. They are often used in the context of blockchain technology to increase scalability and privacy. Here's a more detailed explanation of both:

1. SNARKs (Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge): SNARKs allow for a short proof that can be checked quickly, regardless of the size of the computation or the amount of data involved. In other words, they enable someone to prove that a certain computation has been done correctly without having to redo the computation themselves. SNARKs do require a trusted setup, meaning that there is an initial phase in which a common reference string is generated and if this process is compromised it could lead to the ability to forge proofs.

2. STARKs (Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge): STARKs offer similar benefits to SNARKs, in that they also allow for the creation of small, quickly verifiable proofs of large computations. However, they don't require a trusted setup, so they are transparent - there's no initial reference string that could be tampered with. STARKs use a different form of cryptography that's quantum-resistant, but they generate larger proofs than SNARKs, so they require more bandwidth.

In the context of blockchain, these technologies can be used for scalability and privacy solutions. They allow many transactions to be batched together in a single proof that can be verified quickly, thus increasing the number of transactions that can be handled at once. They can also be used to create zero-knowledge proofs, allowing users to prove that they have certain information (like a valid private key) without revealing that information itself.