Conductive fine particles which prevent a leak current from being caused
by conductive fine particles as a result of fine-pitched electrodes and
are low in connection resistance and excellent in conduction reliability,
and an anisotropic conductive material using the conductive fine
particles. The conductive fine particles have the surfaces of base
material fine particles covered with conductive films, with the
conductive films provided on the surfaces thereof with swelling
protrusions, wherein the swelling protrusions have an average height of
at least 50 nm, the portions of swelling protrusions consist of, as a
core material, conductive materials different from those of the
conductive films, and the outer peripheries of the conductive fine
particles are provided with insulating coating layers or insulating fine
particles, preferably the thickness of the insulating coating layers
being at least 0.2 nm, preferably an average particle size of the
insulating fine particles being at least 30 nm and up to an average
height of the protrusions; and the anisotropic conductive material having
the conductive fine particles dispersed in its resin binder.