Promoting the development of the digital economy and fostering corporate green innovation are of significant importance for China to realize economic growth and environment-friendly development simultaneously. This paper uses A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2021 as a sample to empirically test the impact of the digital economy on corporate green innovation. The findings indicate that the digital economy can enhance the level of corporate green innovation, and executives with environmental backgrounds can positively moderate the impact of the digital economy on green innovation. The mechanism analysis reveals that the development of the digital economy can positively affect green innovation by increasing corporate R&D investment and strengthening environmental regulations. Heterogeneity tests show that the promoting effect of the digital economy on green innovation is more significant in high-tech enterprises and those with better ESG performance. The conclusions of this study can provide guidance for improving corporate green innovation levels and contribute to China’s green transformation and development.