To activate your free or paid domain name you must complete the registration process. You will then receive a request to confirm your email within 72 hours. It is important that you confirm your email, otherwise your domain name will not be registered and will be available for others to register.
Free domain names are automatically activated immediately after acknowledgment of your confirmation. If you are purchasing a domain name, and you pay by credit card or PayPal, then the domain will get activated immediately after payment. Only paid domain names that are paid by bank wire are suspended until the payment is received.