<p>As an emerging energy conversion technology, the supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO₂) Brayton cycle offers advantages, including a compact structure and high efficiency. As a core component of the power cycle, the performance of pressurization equipment significantly impacts the cycle’s thermal efficiency. SCO₂, as a working fluid in a state between gas and liquid phases, allows for the selection of pumps for liquid pressurization or compressors for gas pressurization. In the context of SCO₂ power cycles, current domestic and international research on SCO₂ pressurization primarily focuses on centrifugal compressors, with limited attention paid to the feasibility and performance of centrifugal pumps. This study compares the structural design principles of centrifugal pumps and centrifugal compressors, analyzes the challenges posed by the supercritical state of the working fluid to the selection and design of pressurization equipment, and identifies key difficulties in the design and numerical simulation of SCO₂ centrifugal pumps. Additionally, the feasibility of centrifugal pumps as pressurization equipment for SCO₂ power cycles is evaluated, along with the design and operational considerations that must be addressed. Future investigations into three-dimensional flow phenomena will serve as a critical reference for the design of supercritical CO₂ centrifugal pumps.</p>