diff --git a/assets/key.go b/assets/key.go
index abd970b..10f19b0 100644
--- a/assets/key.go
+++ b/assets/key.go
@@ -59,6 +59,14 @@ func NewKey(m map[string]interface{}) (k Key, err errors.ICCError) {
 			if index != 0 {
 				keyExists = false
 			}
+		} else {
+			// Get asset type from @key
+			parts := strings.Split(k["@key"].(string), ":")
+			if len(parts) < 2 {
+				err = errors.NewCCError("cannot determine asset type from key", 400)
+				return
+			}
+			k["@assetType"] = parts[0]
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/assets_key_test.go b/test/assets_key_test.go
index 4319ec9..3c07c17 100644
--- a/test/assets_key_test.go
+++ b/test/assets_key_test.go
@@ -39,3 +39,52 @@ func TestKeyJSON(t *testing.T) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 }
+
+func TestKeyGenUsingAssetType(t *testing.T) {
+	m := map[string]interface{}{
+		"@assetType": "person",
+		"id":         "31820792048",
+	}
+
+	key, err := assets.NewKey(m)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println(err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	expectedKey := assets.Key{
+		"@assetType": "person",
+		"@key":       "person:47061146-c642-51a1-844a-bf0b17cb5e19",
+	}
+
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(key, expectedKey) {
+		log.Println("these should be deeply equal")
+		log.Println(key)
+		log.Println(expectedKey)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+}
+
+func TestKeyGenUsingKey(t *testing.T) {
+	m := map[string]interface{}{
+		"@key": "person:47061146-c642-51a1-844a-bf0b17cb5e19",
+	}
+
+	key, err := assets.NewKey(m)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Println(err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	expectedKey := assets.Key{
+		"@assetType": "person",
+		"@key":       "person:47061146-c642-51a1-844a-bf0b17cb5e19",
+	}
+
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(key, expectedKey) {
+		log.Println("these should be deeply equal")
+		log.Println(key)
+		log.Println(expectedKey)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+}