Crown ethers, as the first generation macrocycle, with flexible cavity, are widely used to construct supramolecular assemblies, due to their complexation of metal ions and organic cations. Sulfonated crown ether is a kind of anionic crown ether derivative with good water solubility, compared with crown ether, it possess more binding sites, stronger binding ability and better guest selectivity with metal ions and organic cations. This review introduces the research progress of sulfonated crown ether from the synthesis of sulfonated crown ethers, the complexation of alkali metal ions, lanthanide metals, and the assembly of organic cationic guests. Then we comprehensively analyse the binding modes and driving forces of sulfonated crown ethers from the perspectives of thermodynamics and crystal structures. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of the development of molecular binding and assembly of sulfonated crown ethers, and prospected the application of sulfonated crown ethers.