Abstract: From the perspective of new quality productivity theory, this paper systematically analyzes statistical data on ecological restoration of mines in China from 2019 to 2023, constructs a three-dimensional analytical framework encompassing ecology-first principles, innovation-driven development and multi-stakeholder collaboration, and employs this framework to examine institutional dilemmas and regulatory adaptation pathways. Current mine ecological restoration faces three-dimensional institution challenges: improper guarantee mechanisms for restoration responsibilities in mining rights transfers, reflecting insufficient implementation of ecology-first principles; technological innovation constrained by institutional and systemic barriers, demonstrating insufficient momentum for innovation-driven development; and unreasonable investment and financing structure as well as insufficient social participation, exposing impediment of multi-stakeholder collaboration mechanisms. Empirical analysis reveals that the proportion of the newly repaired area within the existing damaged area exhibited a nonlinear trend, initially increasing, subsequently decreasing, and eventually leveling off, with social capital participation declining by almost 60%, reflecting structural contradictions between institutional supply and practical demand. Based on the Mineral Resources Law of the People’s Republic of China, pathways to resolve these dilemmas include: reconstructing mining rights responsibility systems and improving the guarantee mechanisms for restoration responsibilities; establishing technological innovation support systems with strengthened institutional incentives; and enhancing the collaborative governance of mine ecological restoration and promoting investment diversification as well as benign interaction between various entities.