Abstract: This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge of the mechanisms through which coral restoration influences the three major carbon pumps in coral reef ecosystems: the carbonate carbon pump, biological carbon pump, and microbial carbon pump. It also identifies key limitations and knowledge gaps in the existing literature. Existing evidence suggests that increases in coral cover and the recovery of reef structural complexity may enhance carbonate carbon pump processes. The reestablishment of fish and benthic communities may facilitate the recovery of biological carbon pumping and organic carbon transfer, whereas shifts in microbial communities may regulate the transformation of dissolved organic carbon into more persistent forms of organic carbon.However, the effects of coral restoration on carbon pump functioning vary with restoration scale, environmental conditions, and underlying ecological processes. Whether coral restoration ultimately produces a net carbon sequestration benefit therefore remains uncertain and requires further evaluation through long-term monitoring and comprehensive carbon budget assessments. Future research should integrate multiscale ecological monitoring, stable-isotope tracing, and microbial functional analyses to elucidate the mechanisms by which coral restoration alters carbon cycling across different ecological compartments and temporal scales. Such efforts will provide a stronger scientific basis for optimizing coral reef restoration strategies and assessing their potential contribution to ocean carbon sequestration.