diff --git a/comfy/asset_management.py b/comfy/asset_management.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6bdb18f45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/comfy/asset_management.py
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from typing import Any, TypedDict
+import os
+import logging
+import comfy.utils
+
+import folder_paths
+
+class AssetMetadata(TypedDict):
+    device: Any
+    return_metadata: bool
+    subdir: str
+    download_url: str
+
+class AssetInfo:
+    def __init__(self, hash: str=None, name: str=None, tags: list[str]=None, metadata: AssetMetadata={}):
+        self.hash = hash
+        self.name = name
+        self.tags = tags
+        self.metadata = metadata
+
+
+class ReturnedAssetABC(ABC):
+    def __init__(self, mimetype: str):
+        self.mimetype = mimetype
+
+
+class ModelReturnedAsset(ReturnedAssetABC):
+    def __init__(self, model: dict[str, str] | tuple[dict[str, str], dict[str, str]]):
+        super().__init__("model")
+        self.model = model
+
+
+class AssetResolverABC(ABC):
+    @abstractmethod
+    def resolve(self, asset_info: AssetInfo) -> ReturnedAssetABC:
+        ...
+
+
+class LocalAssetResolver(AssetResolverABC):
+    def resolve(self, asset_info: AssetInfo) -> ReturnedAssetABC:
+        # currently only supports models - make sure models is in the tags
+        if "models" not in asset_info.tags:
+            return None
+        # TODO: if hash exists, call model processor to try to get info about model:
+        if asset_info.hash:
+            ...
+        # if subdir metadata and name exists, use that as the model name going forward
+        if "subdir" in asset_info.metadata and asset_info.name:
+            relative_path = os.path.join(asset_info.metadata["subdir"], asset_info.name)
+            # the good ol' bread and butter - folder_paths's keys as tags
+            folder_keys = folder_paths.folder_names_and_paths.keys()
+            parent_paths = []
+            for tag in asset_info.tags:
+                if tag in folder_keys:
+                    parent_paths.append(tag)
+            if len(parent_paths) == 0:
+                return None
+            # now we have the parent keys, we can try to get the local path
+            chosen_parent = None
+            full_path = None
+            for parent_path in parent_paths:
+                full_path = folder_paths.get_full_path(parent_path, relative_path)
+                if full_path:
+                    chosen_parent = parent_path
+                    break
+            logging.info(f"Resolved {asset_info.name} to {full_path} in {chosen_parent}")
+            # we know the path, so load the model and return it
+            model = comfy.utils.load_torch_file(full_path, safe_load=True, device=asset_info.metadata.get("device", None), return_metadata=asset_info.metadata.get("return_metadata", False))
+            return ModelReturnedAsset(model)
+        # TODO: if name exists, try to find model by name in all subdirs of parent paths
+        if asset_info.name:
+            ...
+        # TODO: if download_url metadata exists, download the model and load it
+        if asset_info.metadata.get("download_url", None):
+            ...
+        return None
+
+
+resolvers: list[AssetResolverABC] = []
+
+
+def resolve(asset_info: AssetInfo) -> Any:
+    global resolvers
+    for resolver in resolvers:
+        try:
+            return resolver.resolve(asset_info)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logging.error(f"Error resolving asset {asset_info.hash}: {e}")
+    return None
diff --git a/comfy_api/latest/_io.py b/comfy_api/latest/_io.py
index ec1efb51d..bc5582094 100644
--- a/comfy_api/latest/_io.py
+++ b/comfy_api/latest/_io.py
@@ -384,6 +384,20 @@ class MultiCombo(ComfyTypeI):
             })
             return to_return
 
+@comfytype(io_type="ASSET")
+class Asset(ComfyTypeI):
+    class Input(WidgetInput):
+        def __init__(self, id: str, query_tags: list[str], display_name: str=None, optional=False, tooltip: str=None, lazy: bool=None,
+                    default: str=None, socketless: bool=None):
+            super().__init__(id, display_name, optional, tooltip, lazy, default, socketless)
+            self.query_tags = query_tags
+
+        def as_dict(self):
+            to_return = super().as_dict() | prune_dict({
+                "query_tags": self.query_tags
+            })
+            return to_return
+
 @comfytype(io_type="IMAGE")
 class Image(ComfyTypeIO):
     Type = torch.Tensor