The digital economy is an important product of the information technology revolution. With the advent of the big data era, the digital economy is having an increasingly significant impact on traditional economies. Rural revitalization is an important strategy for the current economic development in China, and the digital economy can provide new development opportunities for rural revitalization. This paper reviews the relevant research on the digital economy and rural revitalization, analyzes the role and mechanism of the digital economy in promoting rural revitalization. The results show that the role of the digital economy in rural revitalization lies in promoting agricultural modernization, promoting rural industrial upgrading, improving rural infrastructure, and enhancing rural social services. The mechanism by which the digital economy promotes rural revitalization mainly includes policy support, technological innovation, capital investment, and talent cultivation. This paper aims to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the application of the digital economy in rural revitalization.