Financial inclusion is viewed as one of the most potent strategies for improving regional economies and lowering air pollution by providing consumers with enough access to and use of diverse digital financial services that match their demands. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the Digital Financial Inclusion Index on regional economic growth in 31 Chinese provinces between 2003 and 2022 using linear and quadratic GMM-system methods. In the linear model, the results suggest that digital financial inclusion has a positive effect on economic growth. The quadratic GMM-system, on the other hand, confirms that this relationship is not linear. Furthermore, according to the results of the two models, digital financial inclusion can decrease the detrimental consequences of environmental pollution. To maximize the positive effects of digital financial inclusion on economic growth, authorities should strategically integrate digital technology and strengthen regional joint efforts.