The Yangtze River Economic Belt serves as the core region of China’s “T-shaped” growth pole, exhibiting significant advantages in the digital economy. Manufacturing, as the foundation of industry, plays a vital supporting role in regional economic development. Based on panel data from 108 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2010 to 2022, this study employs a baseline model, a mediation effect model, and the Spatial Durbin Model to analyze the intrinsic relationship between the digital economy and the green transformation of manufacturing within the belt. The findings indicate that the digital economy, including its sub-indices, can effectively promote the green transformation of manufacturing in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Specifically, the digital economy facilitates this transformation primarily through three channels: promoting industrial structure upgrading, enhancing energy efficiency, and advancing technological innovation. Moreover, both the digital economy and its sub-indices exert significant spatial spillover effects on the green transformation of manufacturing in the region. The conclusions of this study offer valuable insights for further unleashing digital dividends, optimizing the spatial layout of the digital economy, and promoting the agglomeration of green industries within the Yangtze River Economic Belt.