In the context of the digital era, global value chains are facing unprecedented reconstruction and upgrading. The development of global trade is influenced by the importance of digital trade in upgrading the status of global value chains. Based on the research of digital trade and global value chain theory, we construct a mechanism model of digital trade to enhance the status of the global value chain and measure digital trade and global value chain by combining the multi-indicator panel hierarchical factor analysis method and the trade value-added accounting method, respectively. Benchmark regression analysis of digital trade and global value chain status indices of major economies is used to explore the impact of digital trade on the status of global value chains. There is a positive correlation between the level of digital trade and the GVC status index, with the GVC status index increasing by 1.6 percentage points for every 1 percentage point increase in the level of digital trade. The level of digital trade has a positive impact on the GVC position of both developed and developing economies. For every 1% increase in the level of digital trade, the GVC position index of developed and developing economies increases by 2.5% and 1.7%, respectively.