> 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

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 dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

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

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

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.