In a new announcement, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recommended that brokers and investment advisers exercise rigorous scrutiny when giving cryptocurrency-related advice to ensure that risky products are in the best interests of their clients.

The staff bulletin, sent out on Thursday, Outlines advisers' responsibilities to clients and specifically mentions cryptocurrencies, continuing the agency's recent focus on the crypto industry. Last year, the agency's rules and guidelines largely ignored digital assets.

"Some specific products are more complex than others or have additional risk characteristics that may make it more difficult for companies and their financial experts to develop an understanding," the SEC said in the guidance, citing "crypto asset security" as one example.

Therefore, according to the announcement, when a broker or adviser talks to a client about cryptocurrencies, the adviser must ensure that the person receiving the advice is aware of the products and whether the cryptocurrency products fit the client's specific financial situation. This represents the staff's view of existing regulation and is not a new rule.

In February, the SEC also proposed a new rule that investment advisers registered with the agency must keep their clients' crypto assets with a "qualified custodian." SEC Chairman Gary Gensler said it was almost certain that existing cryptocurrency platforms would be excluded.