> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hub.bsvblockchain.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hub.bsvblockchain.org/bitcoin-protocol-documentation/concepts/digital-asset-recovery.md).

# Digital Asset Recovery

Court-ordered asset freezing and recovery

The protocol includes an **Alert System**: a messaging mechanism by which nodes exchange network-governance messages. **Digital Asset Recovery** is a use of that system that provides a standardised way for nodes to act on court orders affecting specific outputs.

Each node maintains a blacklist of asset **freeze** and **recovery** orders:

* A **freeze order** names UTXOs that a court has directed be made unspendable.
* A **recovery order** reassigns funds from a frozen UTXO to a recovery UTXO, for example to return stolen funds to their legal owner.

The consensus handling of frozen outputs — a transaction or block that spends a consensus-frozen output is invalid, and the confiscation-transaction class that implements court-ordered reassignment — is specified under [Consensus Rules](/bitcoin-protocol-documentation/specification/consensus-rules.md#contextual-input-rules) and the [Protocol History](/bitcoin-protocol-documentation/specification/upgrade-history.md#confiscation-transactions-2022-11-11) page. The specific block heights, message formats, and maturity rules are given there.

{% hint style="info" %}
The BSV node software ships with digital asset recovery functionality. The legal processes that drive it are administered off-chain and are out of scope for this protocol reference.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://hub.bsvblockchain.org/bitcoin-protocol-documentation/concepts/digital-asset-recovery.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.