I don't see why people still care about it after Bakkt being such a fail. Vaneck has launched a trust not that long ago, and it is a fail as well. Based on these institutions not generating volume, how well do you think an ETF would do?
An ETF would be more accessible. For instance, average folks would have access through mainstream brokers -- probably for cheap, flat fees. It could also be packaged for IRA and pension investment at low cost. Years down the road, it could even be an option in your employer-provided 401(k) plan.
By comparison, Bakkt and the Vaneck trust are for institutional investors only. I also don't think futures contracts are nearly as marketable as a long term investment.
The only successful institution so far is CME with tens of thousands worth of BTC traded every day.... downside is that these are cash settled contracts and not actual BTC, so there is no positive impact on the market.
The CME market gradually built up that volume over the last couple years. Bakkt could follow a similar route.