Abstract: Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are widely recognized as most promising candidates for the next generation of low-cost and high-efficiency energy storage systems. Disordered carbon are the most practical anode materials for SIBs, because of their high reversibility and low sodium intercalation potential. However, current disordered carbon anodes face challenges in incompatibility of high plateau capacity and high safety operating voltages, as well as sluggish kinetics of sodium storage, leading to trade-offs in energy density, fast-charging performance, and safety characteristics of SIBs, severely limiting the commercialization of SIBs. This study focuses on the key bottlenecks that restrict the development of carbon anodes in sodium-ion batteries and analyzes the kinetic behavior of each step in the plateau sodium storage process. The progress in building high-energy and fast-charging sodium-ion batteries is reviewed from two perspectives: the electrode-electrolyte interface and the microstructural regulation of disordered carbon. Furthermore, the critical factors influencing the kinetics of sodium storage and the plateau potential are discussed. Finally, a brief review and outlook are presented for the development direction and key challenges of carbon anode for sodium-ion batteriess, aiming to advance the development of practical carbon anode materials for sodium-ion batteries.