The digital economy not only injects new momentum into regional economic growth but also serves as a crucial catalyst for advancing high-quality regional economic development. This paper identifies the direct effects of the digital economy on regional economic coordination and its indirect effects in promoting technological innovation to support highquality regional economic development. Based on this framework, data from multiple provinces in China spanning 2015–2023 were selected. Comprehensive empirical tests were conducted using bidirectional fixed effects models, mediation effect models, and geographic detector models. The results indicate that the digital economy significantly promotes high-quality regional economic development, with pronounced regional heterogeneity—particularly benefiting central, western, and southern regions. Technological innovation serves as a key mediating pathway for digital economy-driven development, and fostering interregional innovation cooperation further advances coordinated high-quality regional economic development. This study provides an innovative theoretical foundation for cross-regional digital economy collaboration.